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| Episode No. | 18 |
| Episode Title | The Photographer |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | John Carradine - Sidney Blackmer - Raymond Bailey - Robert Ellenstein |
| Airdate | 01/27/59 |
| Writer | Ken Kolb |
| Director | Arnold Laven |
| Synopsis | A traveling photographer is accused of murder until Lucas devises a plan to unmask the real killer. Our old friend Able Goss had come to North Fork to sell his photography. I wanted him to take another picture of Mark because it had been several years since we had a daguerreotype taken of Mark. "You remember the last time I took your daguerreotype back in the nations Mark," asked Able? "You were just a little one," he continued. "Doesn't seem like too long since I took your Ma and Pa's wedding picture," he bragged. I remembered that day fondly - it was sure a day I would never forget. "You two sure made a pretty weddin' picture," remarked Able. Something was wrong with the hinge on the camera so Mark's picture taking would have to wait. Suddenly surprised, Able reached into the wagon for his gun. "It's them, I knew the day would come," swore Able. What had gotten into Able? The two men leaving the hotel had him awfully upset. We struggled as I took the gun from his hand and right there in front of me he vowed to kill both of them! "Do you know who they are," he asked? "I've seen them around, they are buying a ranch outside town," I answered. The men were Jess Whiteside and Bart Jameson, his orderly. "Filthy butchers," Able growled. "They ran a prison camp, villous hole this side of Hades." I reminded Able the war was over, over and done with a long time ago, but he had lived in that prison camp with those vultures for one year. He couldn't easily forget. Whiteside and Jameson were peering down through binoculars at the photographer from their hotel room. They had recognized Able and remembered the threat he made to them so many years ago to kill them both for his treatment at the prison camp. Jameson was ready to get out of town as soon as it was dark. Colonel Whiteside was gonna stay and correct the mistake he had made years before by not killing Able. "The deal here is just too good," responded Whiteside. They were staying. Jameson had never worried about Able's prison camp threats in the past but lately he was having dreams. Nightmares seeing all the faces of the men he had tortured and killed in prison camp and afterward. He wanted it to stop. Whiteside came up with a plan to get rid of Able Goss. He would force Able into a gunfight. Able would never reveal their ugly secrets. The camera was finally fixed and Mark returned to have his photograph taken. They were finishing up when Whiteside stepped into the street to call the photographer out. Able shouted for Mark to take cover under the wagon. Two shots rang out and when I ran to the street I could see Able had kept his promise. Colonel Whiteside lay dead in the dirt. "Able, you must be out of your mind! I didn't think you meant it," I said. "Self defense, Luke, I swear. He called me out and made the play," Able explained. Micah took the gun from him and noted two bullets were missing from the chamber. Able explained he had shot a rattler that morning in his camp but Micah wasn't buying the story and Able couldn't prove it. Thankfully, Mark was unharmed but wanted to know why Able was being questioned. He had seen Colonel Whiteside call to Mr. Goss in the street but since he was under the wagon he hadn't seen Whiteside draw his gun. Micah checked Whiteside's gun only to find it had never been unholstered. In spite of this Able insisted he was drawn on first. Whiteside had also been shot in the back! Bart Jameson appeared from the background and confirmed that Colonel Whiteside had indeed been shot down in cold blood. There were two bullets missing from Able's gun to back up the claim so Marshal Torrance led him off to jail. I wished I could leave town right away because my testimony would probably hang Able. A trial was conducted and the evidence was convincing that the photographer was guilty. When I testified I had to tell of Able's treatment in prison camp and his threat to kill the two men. Mark didn't believe this kind man would shoot a man down in cold blood. I could see he was troubled about testifying but he wanted the folks to know this gentle man could not do such a thing. He had more faith in Mr. Goss than I did. Mark wanted to leave for a bit so we stepped outside to chat. He was upset with my testimony and felt I was wrong. I knew what I had heard and seen and I told Mark the jury would do the final deciding. We had a few angry words and I promised him we'd do some serious talking when we got home that night. "Does that mean you don't want me telling my side in court," he asked? What he saw and heard was not the same as what I saw and heard. He was worried what folks would think since he'd be talking against me. I reassured him. "You're entitled to your opinion same as I am. Our disagreeing has nothing to do with what you saw. Justice depends on that, son." Mark and I went back in and when it was his turn to testify he stood up for his friend. It broke my heart when the crowd laughed at his firm belief in his friend the photographer. Mark left the court proceedings with his head hung low. When I got the chance I slipped out to find him. I watched puzzled as my little boy was in the middle of the street where the incident had occurred. He was walking off paces, reenacting the whole event. He soon ran over to me and pulled at my arm to come over and hear his story of what happened. He was convinced someone else shot Colonel Whiteside and he knew a way to prove it. We rushed back into the courtroom and asked the judge for permission to speak to our friend. "Do you feel the cause of justice will be served by interrupting the trial this way," the Judge inquired? "I don't know for sure, but it's possible," I replied. Permission was given and I asked Able to explain the steps to develop Mark's photograph. We made our way to Abel's wagon to accomplish the task. In the wagon we searched for the daguerreotype of Mark. All the plates seemed to be developed but Mark thought his plate might still be in the camera. There it was! Court convened a bit later with Able testifying and swearing he'd only fired one shot. We interrupted the proceedings to show the evidence I had to clear Able of this crime. I held up the glass plate and explained that when Mark's picture was taken it also revealed a window directly behind him. In this window was an image of a man with a rifle and if Able was allowed to develop the negative the real killer's identity would be revealed. Jameson jumped up and shot out the glass plate thinking he would destroy the evidence and get away. Micah stopped him and he finally confessed he was the man with the rifle in the window. What Jameson didn't know was that I never managed to get the image developed. I couldn't figure out the complicated procedure of developing a print. I was a rancher not a photographer! Mark's confidence and faith in his friend amazed me. I relearned a lesson from Mark this time - the idea of trusting your instincts, standing by your friends, and fighting for what you believe in. Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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