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 (00:11):
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 Yoma to
(00:52):
Fort Defiance, from Flagstaff to the Watchukas, and below the
border through Chihuaha 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 Slaughter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Carl Justice was dead, bushwhacked in the Cheruchcoas for the
ten thousand dollars he was carrying. But Justice wasn't dead.
The posse from the Cattleman's Association at see the vet
If we had to cover every half section between the
petrified forest and the Mexican border, and it looked like
we might at least the first day in the saddle.
(01:44):
We didn't find a trace of Justice's killer or the gold.
We were a tired bunch of Ranahans when we came
back to town that afternoon. All right, boys, git yourselves
a good night's rest, be ready to ride again.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Its sun up where hardy loop?
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Hellow at your town?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
You look like you've been eating a lot of dust.
I have you turn up anything?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Nothing? Not a single sign.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
A killer's got to leave a shine.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
This one didn't.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Sure is a shame.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Carl ought a node better than to try carrying all
that money over to Bisbee by itself.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
But he didn't. Oh man, I'm tired.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You're going to go out to the ranch tonight.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
No, I'll grab some shut eye over at the office.
Let's go. Hold up a minute. You can't get by
this outfit well wagons. It's a pretty small train to
be traveling alone. Keep it over.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Were you driving boards? Ain't he that he wasn't raised
on prunes and proverbs?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
You know, that's a funny thing about that outfitting. No kids,
not a single one.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yayyy's peculiar.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Usually they got Young's fist tune all over from the
driver's box to the tailgate.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, I'm gonna spread out on the cot back then.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah, yeah, you do that, luke, And you better under
unlimber your guns. You ain't had them off since you
rode out of here before dawn.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, I'll drop him here on the desk.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And pull your hat down over your eyes. Luke, anybody
come around asking fool questions.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
I'll take care of him.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Thanks with your ton I sure wish I could find
some traces.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Oh, forget it now, Luke. I want to hear you
snoreing inside of two minutes. Carl Justice can't get no
dinner in ears right now, evening, Stranger, what can I
do for you?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
You can reach mister.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
This is the office of the Cattleman's Association. Stranger, why
the six gun?
Speaker 6 (03:57):
I'm asking the questions.
Speaker 5 (03:59):
Who's the all right on the bed?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Answer me? Ooh him drunk or sleeping it off?
Speaker 5 (04:09):
So you're all the famous Luke Slaughter tombstone.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
What do you want? Stranger?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
That's what I wanted.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Slaughter puts you to sleep for a while.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
What's your time?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
What's your time? I shouldn't have taken my guns off.
You get your witch back. I'll take over now.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Hey, hey, Slaughter, Slaughter that they broke them into fixing.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
The robber bank.
Speaker 8 (04:38):
There was two of them and now they're riding east
out of town.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Oh, who ain't you gonna follow him? Why should I?
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Well, you're ahead of the post for the cattleman you're
supposed to.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
What about that other rider headed west?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
So you weren't nowhere near the bank. He come out
of your office.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That's right, slaughter, Now, look.
Speaker 6 (04:56):
Was tying to hear yammering them?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Thieves? Is getting that much for you? Did they get anything?
Speaker 9 (05:00):
No?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
But I told you it broke the window. I've got
bigger problems in a broken window. Go chase him yourself.
Speaker 8 (05:06):
You hold a high handed, clouding the trail away to
wink in a plane?
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Chase?
Speaker 4 (05:14):
What what's going on anyway?
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Luke? I don't know what your do? I wish I
did he.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Umbra had no call. The pistol whipped me.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
You wouldn't have gotten away with it if I'd had
my guns. But remember he thought he was pistol whipping me.
What your town?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Gee?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
That's right?
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Well, ain't you gonna try to chase him down?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
No, it's almost dark. Besides, what would you chase to
riding east to broke the window on the bank, other
one riding west? Or do aed your skull w.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Clean? Get away on all counter?
Speaker 9 (05:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
What your tie? I don't think so I've got an idea.
Right now, let's get over to the old ducks and
get a plaster for your scalp. You might need your
head before the night's out.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Look, you ain't told me one flame thing about where
we're going.
Speaker 7 (06:15):
Or what you're up to.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I'm not sure myself.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
We'll just riding in the moonlight won't get us nowheares.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Besides, I think you you'd head yourself enough riding for
one day I have.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
I don't got into a stranger cracking you over the
side of the head with a pistol.
Speaker 7 (06:35):
Yeah, I appreciate that, Loupe, But.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
There's some other things that just don't fit search airs.
Why did those bank robbers break a window? That's noise?
Last thing? A thief once right, tookies?
Speaker 3 (06:48):
That's right, But that still don't explain why we're night
riding out here a mile west of town headed for California.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
When i'd go on that fire with the town rain up.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
Ship.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, Now, what.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I figured the wagon train that came through town just
before sundown could have gotten any further than mule crossing
before it better down or I'm gonna pay him a visit.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Luke, this ain't no time for being social.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
This isn't social, which this is business.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
You think that wagon train had something to do with
all these things been going on?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Maybe you wait here behind these rocks and don't move
out for anybody. I'll whistle when I come back. Well
you want me to stay here because I think I'm
gonna need you later.
Speaker 7 (07:34):
Hope you know what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I'll know better than a half hour. So long, so.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Long, dead blamed tight ball?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Hold up, don't you turn around evening?
Speaker 10 (08:01):
What's your business?
Speaker 5 (08:01):
Stranger?
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I want to talk to the boss of this wagon train.
Why are you the bus? No, but I'm talking to
the wrong man. Where's your bus?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Put off your hands and move on?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Slop Hey, Burwell, Yeah, this is Lannigan.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
I'm coming in.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Gom gonna set out there here about it?
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Got me a snooper?
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well that's.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
Here he is, Burwell, riding in like he owned the camp.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
Eah. Hell, we ain't much for visiting, and they come
at us in the dark.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Mister, What you want some information? What kind? How many
people in your train, where you're headed, where you camped
last night, and where you were on the trail the
day before that? Nosy ay, Maybe you gents out of
No my name, Well, what is slaughter? Luke slutter?
Speaker 5 (09:05):
He ain't Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
I'll handle this. Just who did you think I was? Lannigan? Why?
Speaker 6 (09:13):
I were pleased to make your acquaintance?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Laughter?
Speaker 6 (09:15):
My name is Burwell. Aren't you lighting and draw the fire?
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Thanks? Burwell?
Speaker 6 (09:24):
About those questions? Are yours? Why do you want to
know about us?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
For your own protection? It was a murder ten miles
easter Tombstone early last night. I haven't found the killer yet.
A bushwhack, you know. Yeah, and whoever did it got
away with several thousand dollars in gold. Oh, say, that's
too bad. It's a couple of other things too. Just
after you passed through town before sunset, there was an
(09:50):
attempt to rob the bank.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
You don't say.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
A good friend of mine named Wichita got pistol whipped
while that was happening.
Speaker 8 (09:56):
Hell, things are kind of active in Tombstone, ain't they.
Oh now you don't think that my little outfit.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I think that your outfit might be in for trouble
if it met up with any of these lawbreakers. I
see those questions, Burwell. Oh sure, sure, Slaughter.
Speaker 6 (10:16):
Well, there's eleven of us. There's eight men, three women.
We left ourt City several weeks ago aheaded for the ocean.
Camped on the trail last night.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
No special, Please, have you seen anything or anybody unusual? No? No,
can't say I have Keep your eyes open, Burwell. I
wouldn't want to see an innocent wagon train get drag outs.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
So we'll do that, Slaughter, might and I see you
to ride out.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
To tell us for anything to do?
Speaker 8 (10:45):
I figure, Oh, we ain't got much by way of hospitality,
but I could lay the dust.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
A little for you. And now that'd get down real
good on a night like this.
Speaker 8 (10:56):
Molly, Yeah, brain the whiskey. A man's gonna have to
forget his manners out on the trail.
Speaker 9 (11:02):
Slaughter, here's the jug Hank.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
Well, this here is Luke Slaughter, Molly, here's my wife,
honey man.
Speaker 9 (11:11):
Pleasure to meet you, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
Don't you try this for size?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Thanks? Just right?
Speaker 6 (11:24):
Well, it's turning into a cold night.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Have another now, thanks, that doesn't It's time I got
back to Townton. Oh, by the way, missus Burwell, one
thing has me.
Speaker 9 (11:35):
Curious, what's that, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Every wagon train I've ever seen carried at least half
a dozen kids. You don't seem to have any.
Speaker 9 (11:46):
Some people don't have chilled.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I guess that's right. It was just a thought. Are
you being pretty personal, ain't you? Slaughter? I didn't mean
to be so long, Lenagan. Maybe we'll meet up again sometime.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, yeah, sure.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Like I said, Burwell, be careful AliOS In a moment,
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns on CBS Radio's gun Smoke Today.
(12:27):
A colorful character named Livy learns that arson is a crime,
no matter what the motive. Livy doesn't want her son
to grow up like his alcoholic father. Her notion of
how to keep the boy from drinking is set afire
to every saloon in Dodge City. When she threatens to
act on her idea. However, she lights the fuse on
an explosive situation from Marshall Matt Dillon, as well as
(12:48):
for herself. For adventure in the West as our Pioneers
knew it. Here this thrilling episode of gun Smoke later
today on CBS Radio, and now Act two of William
(13:09):
and Robson's production of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone.
Speaker 7 (13:30):
Who about time you was getting back?
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Rooke?
Speaker 4 (13:43):
I was beginning to know all the coyotes by name.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It was worth that which you're done. I've been talking
to the man that pistol whipped you a few hours ago.
He was and after that bunch has had a chance
to think it over, and I think we'll both be
talking to him.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
It makes sense.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Will you loose that wagon train in Wichita? It's the
headquarters for everything that's been happening around here lately.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
He is, Well, you just ain't gonna leave him out
there and then let him go on.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Unless I'm dead wrong, They're gonna send a man gunning
for me, and I think I know who it'll be.
Speaker 6 (14:18):
That pistol whipper.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Listen, that's one horse, Luke, and one riding. He's got
to slow down to get through these rocks. When he
does jump him.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yet, will be a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Hey, don't reach, I'll drop you.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
What is this?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Get his guns? Wichita already got him, Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Yeah, Lenigan Slaughter cat a man riding to town for
peace for drink without being ambooshed.
Speaker 9 (14:47):
Light.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
But I don't see what about that horse? Oh sure, sure, Linigan.
I want you to meet a friend of mine. This
is the man who laid that gun barrel alongside your
ear this evening.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
I want to kill you, shame as I would have gone.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Wait a minute, boys, Art, it's against my nature to
fight an unarmed man. Lannigan any one of his guns
barrel first, I'll put it in your holster, Lanigan, and
you're welcome to use it anytime you want to slaughter.
I tell me the real story about that wagon, tray Lanagan.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Why, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Have you ever been pistol whipped? No? No, you're about
to learn what it feels like, unless you care to
draw a slaughter. For the love of Heaven killed Carl Justice,
But I never heard of no Car Justice. He had
ten thousand dollars in gold. Yesterday's dead. Who killed him?
You tell me I'm going to rake a gun site
through your left ear, talk or draw Lnagan? Who killed him?
(16:04):
You want another one?
Speaker 5 (16:05):
No?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
No, it was Burwell.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
He told me not to, but he put up a fight,
and and and Burwell.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
A man doesn't fight with his back. Where did you
pistol whip? Wichitel?
Speaker 5 (16:19):
It was Burwell's idea. He heard about you, and he
thought that if you was laid low for a while,
people did want to go after whoever?
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I figured, Yeah, and.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
Then a couple of the boys broke that wind in
the bank to make it look like.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Burwell's a pretty smart man, isn't he. Oh yeah, he's sure,
But he made the mistake of getting featherheaded yellow gun
slingers like you to have work for him.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Look, you can't call me.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I am calling you. If it isn't true. Draw take
his gun, which your tile? He won't use it, or slaughter.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
Please give me a chance. Just let me go and
I'll go back to Dodge, and I'll never come out
this way.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Which a ton head his horse back toward camp and
give it a slap.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Sure, luke, but what you're gonna do, slaughter.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I'm gonna use you for bait? Which a tie? You
walk him back into town?
Speaker 7 (17:10):
Where are you going?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I'm not through here yet. Oh, and get a message
to Sutton, Tell him to wake up the posse and
spread them around the cattleman's office ready to shoot.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Well, you can't face that whole wagon train by yourself.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I won't have to witch a ton. When Lanagan's horse
gets back to camp, they'll know something went wrong, and
most of them will go to town looking for me. That's
why I want that posse standing by.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Well, what do you want me to do with this
year tail dragon specimen? When I get him back to town.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Tie him up in the back room of the cattleman's
office and wait for me. Oh and uh, don't light
any lanterns.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
We don't have no objections if I have to ruffle
his wardy ups.
Speaker 9 (17:49):
Do you.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
None at all?
Speaker 4 (17:52):
They come on you walk.
Speaker 7 (18:07):
Gaes me.
Speaker 9 (18:08):
The men a lot gone into the ball. Wouldn't be
surprised if you.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Get your hands up, all of you. Who's out there,
Luke Slaughter man, I do as I tell.
Speaker 9 (18:21):
You what You're holding a gun, Paul Slaughter?
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Are there any guards up?
Speaker 3 (18:26):
No?
Speaker 9 (18:26):
All the men folk rode into town a while back.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I liked your hospitality so well, missus Burwell. I came
back for some more of it.
Speaker 9 (18:38):
Didn't put that gun away.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You don't need that, I think I might. You see,
Missus Burrewell, I know the whole story. And what do
you mean, Lanagan talked? That's what I mean.
Speaker 11 (18:55):
Well, now that puts a different light on things. So
Billwell lied to you about me.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
He lied about everything, But.
Speaker 9 (19:06):
This is important. I'm not his wife.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
What of it?
Speaker 11 (19:11):
You're a good looking man, mister Slaughter. Make some woman
a fine husband, a rich woman, Luke, meaning, I know
where there's a sack of gold big enough to last
a man and a woman like you and me for
the rest of our lives.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I'll bet you do.
Speaker 9 (19:31):
Why don't you call me Molly?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
All right? Molly?
Speaker 11 (19:40):
Have you ever kissed a high spirited woman?
Speaker 9 (19:45):
Luke?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Why don't we get rid of the company first?
Speaker 9 (19:51):
What do you want to do with them?
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Tie him up, spread eagled in a wagon wheel?
Speaker 11 (19:55):
Hi, you sure are smart. We're gonna get along fine.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Now about that gold, Molly?
Speaker 9 (20:02):
Ah, No, Harry is there?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You might as well tell me now.
Speaker 11 (20:06):
I don't know as I can trust you yet. No, No,
you don't, but I want to. It's in a chest
in the lead wagon.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Thanks, let's stand over there with the rest of them.
What I'm gonna tie you up to, Molly Slaughter?
Speaker 9 (20:26):
If I had a gun, I know.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
I'd be dead, just like Carl Justice, did you, Luke? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Well, well your shack you're carrying.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
The gold that belonged to Carl Justice. Verywell show up here.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
With sect of his partners. Come up on the boardwalk
out front.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Thought they was going to break in for a minute,
but they decided against it.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Heard one of them say to.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Make too much commotion where they go.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Right across the street there to the Oriental.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
That means when we fire up some lanterns, we'll have visitors.
It's the pussy spread out, just like you said.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
On the roof of the Oriental. On top of the
bank's a dry good store and express company.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Good. How's lanigan where he's going.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
To have a sore head before he hangs?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I had to persuade him, guessed a leader before he
goes to sleep too bad.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Let's get this over with. I'm going out the front door.
You light the lamps in the office.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
By joy.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
This's my old heartboard.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Now, boy, come on, stay way up ro well now,
slaughter boys and me. You want to talk to you?
Do you talking from right there?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I don't like to shout up and down the street.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
I do. Before you say anything else, I think you
ought to know that you're covered by eighteen guns twenty
including mine. And in case you think I'm not telling
the truth, I ask the men on the top of
the bank to speak up. Now, Just what did you
(22:20):
want to talk about? Burwell, let's forget it, Solda, me
and the boys.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
Will be molding along.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
No you won't. I've got some talking to do. Your
women folk are tied up to the wagons out of
your camp. One of your gunslingers is tied up in
the office behind me, and he talked. And this, Burwell,
this is ten thousand dollars in gold that I got
out of your lead wagon. It belonged to Carl Justice
(22:50):
before you killed him. You got anything to say now, Burwell,
I reckon you set it all, drop your guns and
step forward, all of you. Alright, man, close in and
take him.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Luke nancs gangest thing I've ever seen, got every single
one of them, and didn't smoke up the town a bit.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Sometimes you're lucky with it down. Don't fool around with
a red hot branding iron. Then you're ready for the roundup.
Speaker 10 (23:35):
Luke Slutter of Tombstone, starring Sam Buffington, was written by
Alan Buttzer and directed by William N. Robeson editorial supervision
by Tom Henley. Supporting mister Buffington were Gene Carson, Junius Matthews,
Lawrence Dobkin, and Chet Stratton, with music composed and conducted
(23:56):
by Amerigo Marino next week. At this time we returned.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
With slaughters the name Luke Slaughter, and we meet up again.
You can call me that Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
This is the CBS Radio Network.
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 Yoma to
(00:52):
Fort Defiance, from Flagstaff to the Watchukas, and below the
border through Chihuaha 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 Slaughter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Carl Justice was dead, bushwhacked in the Cheruchcoas for the
ten thousand dollars he was carrying. But Justice wasn't dead.
The posse from the Cattleman's Association at see the vet
If we had to cover every half section between the
petrified forest and the Mexican border, and it looked like
we might at least the first day in the saddle.
(01:44):
We didn't find a trace of Justice's killer or the gold.
We were a tired bunch of Ranahans when we came
back to town that afternoon. All right, boys, git yourselves
a good night's rest, be ready to ride again.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Its sun up where hardy loop?
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Hellow at your town?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
You look like you've been eating a lot of dust.
I have you turn up anything?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Nothing? Not a single sign.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
A killer's got to leave a shine.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
This one didn't.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Sure is a shame.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Carl ought a node better than to try carrying all
that money over to Bisbee by itself.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
But he didn't. Oh man, I'm tired.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You're going to go out to the ranch tonight.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
No, I'll grab some shut eye over at the office.
Let's go. Hold up a minute. You can't get by
this outfit well wagons. It's a pretty small train to
be traveling alone. Keep it over.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Were you driving boards? Ain't he that he wasn't raised
on prunes and proverbs?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
You know, that's a funny thing about that outfitting. No kids,
not a single one.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yayyy's peculiar.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Usually they got Young's fist tune all over from the
driver's box to the tailgate.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, I'm gonna spread out on the cot back then.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah, yeah, you do that, luke, And you better under
unlimber your guns. You ain't had them off since you
rode out of here before dawn.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, I'll drop him here on the desk.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And pull your hat down over your eyes. Luke, anybody
come around asking fool questions.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
I'll take care of him.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Thanks with your ton I sure wish I could find
some traces.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Oh, forget it now, Luke. I want to hear you
snoreing inside of two minutes. Carl Justice can't get no
dinner in ears right now, evening, Stranger, what can I
do for you?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
You can reach mister.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
This is the office of the Cattleman's Association. Stranger, why
the six gun?
Speaker 6 (03:57):
I'm asking the questions.
Speaker 5 (03:59):
Who's the all right on the bed?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Answer me? Ooh him drunk or sleeping it off?
Speaker 5 (04:09):
So you're all the famous Luke Slaughter tombstone.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
What do you want? Stranger?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
That's what I wanted.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Slaughter puts you to sleep for a while.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
What's your time?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
What's your time? I shouldn't have taken my guns off.
You get your witch back. I'll take over now.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Hey, hey, Slaughter, Slaughter that they broke them into fixing.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
The robber bank.
Speaker 8 (04:38):
There was two of them and now they're riding east
out of town.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Oh, who ain't you gonna follow him? Why should I?
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Well, you're ahead of the post for the cattleman you're
supposed to.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
What about that other rider headed west?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
So you weren't nowhere near the bank. He come out
of your office.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That's right, slaughter, Now, look.
Speaker 6 (04:56):
Was tying to hear yammering them?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Thieves? Is getting that much for you? Did they get anything?
Speaker 9 (05:00):
No?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
But I told you it broke the window. I've got
bigger problems in a broken window. Go chase him yourself.
Speaker 8 (05:06):
You hold a high handed, clouding the trail away to
wink in a plane?
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Chase?
Speaker 4 (05:14):
What what's going on anyway?
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Luke? I don't know what your do? I wish I
did he.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Umbra had no call. The pistol whipped me.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
You wouldn't have gotten away with it if I'd had
my guns. But remember he thought he was pistol whipping me.
What your town?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Gee?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
That's right?
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Well, ain't you gonna try to chase him down?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
No, it's almost dark. Besides, what would you chase to
riding east to broke the window on the bank, other
one riding west? Or do aed your skull w.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Clean? Get away on all counter?
Speaker 9 (05:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
What your tie? I don't think so I've got an idea.
Right now, let's get over to the old ducks and
get a plaster for your scalp. You might need your
head before the night's out.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Look, you ain't told me one flame thing about where
we're going.
Speaker 7 (06:15):
Or what you're up to.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I'm not sure myself.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
We'll just riding in the moonlight won't get us nowheares.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Besides, I think you you'd head yourself enough riding for
one day I have.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
I don't got into a stranger cracking you over the
side of the head with a pistol.
Speaker 7 (06:35):
Yeah, I appreciate that, Loupe, But.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
There's some other things that just don't fit search airs.
Why did those bank robbers break a window? That's noise?
Last thing? A thief once right, tookies?
Speaker 3 (06:48):
That's right, But that still don't explain why we're night
riding out here a mile west of town headed for California.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
When i'd go on that fire with the town rain up.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
Ship.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, Now, what.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I figured the wagon train that came through town just
before sundown could have gotten any further than mule crossing
before it better down or I'm gonna pay him a visit.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Luke, this ain't no time for being social.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
This isn't social, which this is business.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
You think that wagon train had something to do with
all these things been going on?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Maybe you wait here behind these rocks and don't move
out for anybody. I'll whistle when I come back. Well
you want me to stay here because I think I'm
gonna need you later.
Speaker 7 (07:34):
Hope you know what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I'll know better than a half hour. So long, so.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Long, dead blamed tight ball?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Hold up, don't you turn around evening?
Speaker 10 (08:01):
What's your business?
Speaker 5 (08:01):
Stranger?
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I want to talk to the boss of this wagon train.
Why are you the bus? No, but I'm talking to
the wrong man. Where's your bus?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Put off your hands and move on?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Slop Hey, Burwell, Yeah, this is Lannigan.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
I'm coming in.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Gom gonna set out there here about it?
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Got me a snooper?
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well that's.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
Here he is, Burwell, riding in like he owned the camp.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
Eah. Hell, we ain't much for visiting, and they come
at us in the dark.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Mister, What you want some information? What kind? How many
people in your train, where you're headed, where you camped
last night, and where you were on the trail the
day before that? Nosy ay, Maybe you gents out of
No my name, Well, what is slaughter? Luke slutter?
Speaker 5 (09:05):
He ain't Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
I'll handle this. Just who did you think I was? Lannigan? Why?
Speaker 6 (09:13):
I were pleased to make your acquaintance?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Laughter?
Speaker 6 (09:15):
My name is Burwell. Aren't you lighting and draw the fire?
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Thanks? Burwell?
Speaker 6 (09:24):
About those questions? Are yours? Why do you want to
know about us?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
For your own protection? It was a murder ten miles
easter Tombstone early last night. I haven't found the killer yet.
A bushwhack, you know. Yeah, and whoever did it got
away with several thousand dollars in gold. Oh, say, that's
too bad. It's a couple of other things too. Just
after you passed through town before sunset, there was an
(09:50):
attempt to rob the bank.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
You don't say.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
A good friend of mine named Wichita got pistol whipped
while that was happening.
Speaker 8 (09:56):
Hell, things are kind of active in Tombstone, ain't they.
Oh now you don't think that my little outfit.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I think that your outfit might be in for trouble
if it met up with any of these lawbreakers. I
see those questions, Burwell. Oh sure, sure, Slaughter.
Speaker 6 (10:16):
Well, there's eleven of us. There's eight men, three women.
We left ourt City several weeks ago aheaded for the ocean.
Camped on the trail last night.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
No special, Please, have you seen anything or anybody unusual? No? No,
can't say I have Keep your eyes open, Burwell. I
wouldn't want to see an innocent wagon train get drag outs.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
So we'll do that, Slaughter, might and I see you
to ride out.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
To tell us for anything to do?
Speaker 8 (10:45):
I figure, Oh, we ain't got much by way of hospitality,
but I could lay the dust.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
A little for you. And now that'd get down real
good on a night like this.
Speaker 8 (10:56):
Molly, Yeah, brain the whiskey. A man's gonna have to
forget his manners out on the trail.
Speaker 9 (11:02):
Slaughter, here's the jug Hank.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
Well, this here is Luke Slaughter, Molly, here's my wife,
honey man.
Speaker 9 (11:11):
Pleasure to meet you, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
Don't you try this for size?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Thanks? Just right?
Speaker 6 (11:24):
Well, it's turning into a cold night.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Have another now, thanks, that doesn't It's time I got
back to Townton. Oh, by the way, missus Burwell, one
thing has me.
Speaker 9 (11:35):
Curious, what's that, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Every wagon train I've ever seen carried at least half
a dozen kids. You don't seem to have any.
Speaker 9 (11:46):
Some people don't have chilled.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I guess that's right. It was just a thought. Are
you being pretty personal, ain't you? Slaughter? I didn't mean
to be so long, Lenagan. Maybe we'll meet up again sometime.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, yeah, sure.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Like I said, Burwell, be careful AliOS In a moment,
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns on CBS Radio's gun Smoke Today.
(12:27):
A colorful character named Livy learns that arson is a crime,
no matter what the motive. Livy doesn't want her son
to grow up like his alcoholic father. Her notion of
how to keep the boy from drinking is set afire
to every saloon in Dodge City. When she threatens to
act on her idea. However, she lights the fuse on
an explosive situation from Marshall Matt Dillon, as well as
(12:48):
for herself. For adventure in the West as our Pioneers
knew it. Here this thrilling episode of gun Smoke later
today on CBS Radio, and now Act two of William
(13:09):
and Robson's production of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone.
Speaker 7 (13:30):
Who about time you was getting back?
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Rooke?
Speaker 4 (13:43):
I was beginning to know all the coyotes by name.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It was worth that which you're done. I've been talking
to the man that pistol whipped you a few hours ago.
He was and after that bunch has had a chance
to think it over, and I think we'll both be
talking to him.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
It makes sense.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Will you loose that wagon train in Wichita? It's the
headquarters for everything that's been happening around here lately.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
He is, Well, you just ain't gonna leave him out
there and then let him go on.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Unless I'm dead wrong, They're gonna send a man gunning
for me, and I think I know who it'll be.
Speaker 6 (14:18):
That pistol whipper.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Listen, that's one horse, Luke, and one riding. He's got
to slow down to get through these rocks. When he
does jump him.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yet, will be a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Hey, don't reach, I'll drop you.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
What is this?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Get his guns? Wichita already got him, Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Yeah, Lenigan Slaughter cat a man riding to town for
peace for drink without being ambooshed.
Speaker 9 (14:47):
Light.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
But I don't see what about that horse? Oh sure, sure, Linigan.
I want you to meet a friend of mine. This
is the man who laid that gun barrel alongside your
ear this evening.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
I want to kill you, shame as I would have gone.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Wait a minute, boys, Art, it's against my nature to
fight an unarmed man. Lannigan any one of his guns
barrel first, I'll put it in your holster, Lanigan, and
you're welcome to use it anytime you want to slaughter.
I tell me the real story about that wagon, tray Lanagan.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Why, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Have you ever been pistol whipped? No? No, you're about
to learn what it feels like, unless you care to
draw a slaughter. For the love of Heaven killed Carl Justice,
But I never heard of no Car Justice. He had
ten thousand dollars in gold. Yesterday's dead. Who killed him?
You tell me I'm going to rake a gun site
through your left ear, talk or draw Lnagan? Who killed him?
(16:04):
You want another one?
Speaker 5 (16:05):
No?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
No, it was Burwell.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
He told me not to, but he put up a fight,
and and and Burwell.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
A man doesn't fight with his back. Where did you
pistol whip? Wichitel?
Speaker 5 (16:19):
It was Burwell's idea. He heard about you, and he
thought that if you was laid low for a while,
people did want to go after whoever?
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I figured, Yeah, and.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
Then a couple of the boys broke that wind in
the bank to make it look like.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Burwell's a pretty smart man, isn't he. Oh yeah, he's sure,
But he made the mistake of getting featherheaded yellow gun
slingers like you to have work for him.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Look, you can't call me.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I am calling you. If it isn't true. Draw take
his gun, which your tile? He won't use it, or slaughter.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
Please give me a chance. Just let me go and
I'll go back to Dodge, and I'll never come out
this way.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Which a ton head his horse back toward camp and
give it a slap.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Sure, luke, but what you're gonna do, slaughter.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I'm gonna use you for bait? Which a tie? You
walk him back into town?
Speaker 7 (17:10):
Where are you going?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I'm not through here yet. Oh, and get a message
to Sutton, Tell him to wake up the posse and
spread them around the cattleman's office ready to shoot.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Well, you can't face that whole wagon train by yourself.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I won't have to witch a ton. When Lanagan's horse
gets back to camp, they'll know something went wrong, and
most of them will go to town looking for me. That's
why I want that posse standing by.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Well, what do you want me to do with this
year tail dragon specimen? When I get him back to town.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Tie him up in the back room of the cattleman's
office and wait for me. Oh and uh, don't light
any lanterns.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
We don't have no objections if I have to ruffle
his wardy ups.
Speaker 9 (17:49):
Do you.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
None at all?
Speaker 4 (17:52):
They come on you walk.
Speaker 7 (18:07):
Gaes me.
Speaker 9 (18:08):
The men a lot gone into the ball. Wouldn't be
surprised if you.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Get your hands up, all of you. Who's out there,
Luke Slaughter man, I do as I tell.
Speaker 9 (18:21):
You what You're holding a gun, Paul Slaughter?
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Are there any guards up?
Speaker 3 (18:26):
No?
Speaker 9 (18:26):
All the men folk rode into town a while back.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I liked your hospitality so well, missus Burwell. I came
back for some more of it.
Speaker 9 (18:38):
Didn't put that gun away.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You don't need that, I think I might. You see,
Missus Burrewell, I know the whole story. And what do
you mean, Lanagan talked? That's what I mean.
Speaker 11 (18:55):
Well, now that puts a different light on things. So
Billwell lied to you about me.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
He lied about everything, But.
Speaker 9 (19:06):
This is important. I'm not his wife.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
What of it?
Speaker 11 (19:11):
You're a good looking man, mister Slaughter. Make some woman
a fine husband, a rich woman, Luke, meaning, I know
where there's a sack of gold big enough to last
a man and a woman like you and me for
the rest of our lives.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I'll bet you do.
Speaker 9 (19:31):
Why don't you call me Molly?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
All right? Molly?
Speaker 11 (19:40):
Have you ever kissed a high spirited woman?
Speaker 9 (19:45):
Luke?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Why don't we get rid of the company first?
Speaker 9 (19:51):
What do you want to do with them?
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Tie him up, spread eagled in a wagon wheel?
Speaker 11 (19:55):
Hi, you sure are smart. We're gonna get along fine.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Now about that gold, Molly?
Speaker 9 (20:02):
Ah, No, Harry is there?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You might as well tell me now.
Speaker 11 (20:06):
I don't know as I can trust you yet. No, No,
you don't, but I want to. It's in a chest
in the lead wagon.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Thanks, let's stand over there with the rest of them.
What I'm gonna tie you up to, Molly Slaughter?
Speaker 9 (20:26):
If I had a gun, I know.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
I'd be dead, just like Carl Justice, did you, Luke? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Well, well your shack you're carrying.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
The gold that belonged to Carl Justice. Verywell show up here.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
With sect of his partners. Come up on the boardwalk
out front.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Thought they was going to break in for a minute,
but they decided against it.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Heard one of them say to.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Make too much commotion where they go.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Right across the street there to the Oriental.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
That means when we fire up some lanterns, we'll have visitors.
It's the pussy spread out, just like you said.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
On the roof of the Oriental. On top of the
bank's a dry good store and express company.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Good. How's lanigan where he's going.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
To have a sore head before he hangs?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I had to persuade him, guessed a leader before he
goes to sleep too bad.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Let's get this over with. I'm going out the front door.
You light the lamps in the office.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
By joy.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
This's my old heartboard.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Now, boy, come on, stay way up ro well now,
slaughter boys and me. You want to talk to you?
Do you talking from right there?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I don't like to shout up and down the street.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
I do. Before you say anything else, I think you
ought to know that you're covered by eighteen guns twenty
including mine. And in case you think I'm not telling
the truth, I ask the men on the top of
the bank to speak up. Now, Just what did you
(22:20):
want to talk about? Burwell, let's forget it, Solda, me
and the boys.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
Will be molding along.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
No you won't. I've got some talking to do. Your
women folk are tied up to the wagons out of
your camp. One of your gunslingers is tied up in
the office behind me, and he talked. And this, Burwell,
this is ten thousand dollars in gold that I got
out of your lead wagon. It belonged to Carl Justice
(22:50):
before you killed him. You got anything to say now, Burwell,
I reckon you set it all, drop your guns and
step forward, all of you. Alright, man, close in and
take him.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Luke nancs gangest thing I've ever seen, got every single
one of them, and didn't smoke up the town a bit.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Sometimes you're lucky with it down. Don't fool around with
a red hot branding iron. Then you're ready for the roundup.
Speaker 10 (23:35):
Luke Slutter of Tombstone, starring Sam Buffington, was written by
Alan Buttzer and directed by William N. Robeson editorial supervision
by Tom Henley. Supporting mister Buffington were Gene Carson, Junius Matthews,
Lawrence Dobkin, and Chet Stratton, with music composed and conducted
(23:56):
by Amerigo Marino next week. At this time we returned.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
With slaughters the name Luke Slaughter, and we meet up again.
You can call me that Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
This is the CBS Radio Network.
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