Ep001 | "Billy the Kid"

SPEAKER_2 (0:50)

The story of the violence that moved west with young America.

The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal.

William Conrad (1:09)

Wanted for murder.

SPEAKER_4 (1:10)

Wanted for murder.

William Conrad (1:12)

Clay Richards.

SPEAKER_4 (1:14)

Clay Richards.

William Conrad (1:16)

Age 31

SPEAKER_4 (1:17)

31

William Conrad (1:18)

Height 6 feet.

Eyes brown. Hair red.

SPEAKER_4 (1:23)

Eyes brown, hair red. Hey, how'd you like me to print his picture on these notices? I got a woodcut. Well, let me show you.

That's your marshal, a copy of that front page. Interviewing Clay's wife yesterday, I noticed a tin type on the mantle.

William Conrad (1:38)

Their wedding photograph.

SPEAKER_4 (1:40)

So, first thing you know, I snitched it.

William Conrad (1:43)

It's very thoughtful.

SPEAKER_4 (1:44)

Yeah, oh, I'll take it, Ernie. And then I propped it up in front of me and carved me this woodcut.

Ain't she prime? Ain't she just elegant?

William Conrad (1:53)

Real elegant.

SPEAKER_4 (1:54)

Good likeness, don't you think? Of course, he was seven or eight years younger with the tin type.

William Conrad (1:57)

Yeah, it's a good likeness. Doesn't show what makes a law abiding man like him try to rob a bank.

Doesn't look like a man who murdered an old cashier and a Chinese cook who just happened to be there. But it's a good likeness.

SPEAKER_4 (2:13)

Yes, sir, it is. A picture like this sure dresses up the front page, don't it?

William Conrad (2:17)

Yeah, it's a little masterpiece, Mr. Hightower, a notable contribution to the culture of Dodge City.

SPEAKER_4 (2:22)

Well, thank you, Marshall. Does fetch the eye, don't it? I'm printing an extra 500 copies of the weekly, and I bet I sell them all.

Too bad the cashier's shot went wild. If he'd managed to kill Clay or even wing him, why, I bet I could sell a thousand extra copies.

William Conrad (2:37)

We must be thankful for the blessings we do receive, Mr. Hightower.

SPEAKER_4 (2:41)

Oh, I am, Marshall, I am. Why, just before it happened yesterday afternoon, I didn't know what I was gonna fill my columns with, and then, like manna from heaven, two murders and a bank robbery.

William Conrad (2:51)

Attempted bank robbery, Mr. Hightower. He turned and ran before he got his hands on so much as a dollar.

SPEAKER_4 (2:56)

Oh, yeah.

William Conrad (2:56)

Still, as you say, like manna.

SPEAKER_4 (2:58)

Dylan, I-

William Conrad (2:59)

I'm talking business. What is it, Chester?

SPEAKER_4 (3:07)

It can wait, I guess, Mr. Dylan.

William Conrad (3:10)

Yeah, print Clay's picture on those notices, Mr. Hightower. No, where were we?

SPEAKER_4 (3:14)

Uh, Eyes Brown, Hair Red.

William Conrad (3:17)

Oh, yes. Also known as Red, Brick Top, and Sorrow.

He didn't answer to no other nicknames, did he?

SPEAKER_4 (3:26)

No, that's what they called him.

William Conrad (3:27)

All right, Lieutenant, big letters, $400. Reward, dead or alive. And at the bottom, apply Matt Dillon Marshall, Dodge City.

And print 200 copies. How soon can I send Chester over for him?

SPEAKER_4 (3:44)

This afternoon.

William Conrad (3:45)

Good morning, Mr. Hightower. Chester.

SPEAKER_4 (3:55)

You think those posters will do any good? Richard is probably over the line in Oklahoma or Colorado by now.

And Strawberry Rona, his is the fastest in the county.

William Conrad (4:04)

He has no money. He panicked and ran out of the bank before he got a penny. I think he'll try to get help from his wife or brother or friend the first chance he has, maybe tonight. I say he's around here somewhere.

I'm sorry I turned on you like that, Chester.

SPEAKER_4 (4:24)

Why, that's all right, Mr. Dillon. Out all night with the posse, no sleep, man's bound to get touchy.

William Conrad (4:28)

No, it's not that. It's the way... It's the way people use a thing like this. The men riding posse last night, they enjoyed it as though they were hunting fox or possum. Hightower back there, he acts like it was a birthday treat, specially gotten up for him. Everybody finds a way to use it.

What was it you wanted to tell me?

SPEAKER_4 (4:55)

Oh, I got a kid, a little boy, locked up in a cell, who ran away from home, back in Cottonwood. Ed Slade turned him over to him when he came through on the stagecoach just now.

Kid about 12 years old.

William Conrad (5:07)

Who's is he?

SPEAKER_4 (5:08)

Widow woman, Miss Bonnie. She runs the boarding house in Cottonwood. Ed says the kid's always running away a little while, I guess. He flagged Ed for a ride on the road halfway between there and here.