 You know that the ferry will be your new home. And now for the thrilling adventures of Lightning Jim. The early days of the great American planes were hard, thrilling, and often tragic days were the sturdy pioneers of the Western frontier. Bandits and outlaws robbed the settlers, held up stagecoaches, shot down their victims ruthlessly, and escaped to their hideouts in the mountains, plains, and deserts. Assisting the government to establish and maintain law and order were the fearless and courageous United States marshals and their deputies. These colorful chapters in the history of the Old West come back to us in the adventures of Lightning Jim and his deputy Whitey Larson. Justice was swift and the punishment severe. Let's turn back the pages of time and join the crowd in the small courtroom in the town of Meadville. Gil Gorman, a local rancher, has been tried for the murder of another local rancher, Bard Branton. Order, order in the courtroom. As the jury reach the verdict. We have your honor. We find the defendant Gil Gorman. Gil, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. No, no, Gil didn't do it. I tell you, Gil didn't kill Bard Branton. Oh, Gil, oh, Gil, oh, Gil. Order, order. Quieter, I'll pay the total. Gil, I can't do this, do you? Now, please, honey, don't take on, so I'll be all right. Stand up, Gil Gorman. Oh, I've announced sentence on you, Gil Gorman. Have you anything to say? No more than I said before. I didn't kill Bard. The jury has listened to the evidence and found you, Gil. Therefore, it is the duty of this court to order that on the hour of 6 o'clock on the morning of June 10th, you be hung by the neck until day. Oh, no, no, he didn't. Lighting heavy on me, villain. It's just the sheriff's office. Yep, we haven't been over this. We have quite a spell, buddy. You're a sore. See, I wonder why Sheriff Stevens wanted us to come over here. We'll soon find out. Come on. You're right, sir. Slippin', Jim, and Wiley Larsen, your sure retreat was all right. Well, what's the matter with your foot, Sheriff? Oh, see, you got that old bendy stopper. Yeah, well, I slipped on the steps and sprained my ankle, then blinged along. Well, sit down and make yourself comfortable. Sure, thanks. Well, outside of that foot, you look pretty good, Sheriff. Well, my foot is the least of my worries right now. That's so much trouble. And do you remember, old Ted Gorman? Sure, owned the Bar-G cattle ranch. Yeah. Well, you know his son, Gil, married my daughter, Mabel. Sure, I remember. That was about a year ago, wasn't it? Right. Well, when Ted died, Gil took over the Bar-G ranch that joins up with the double spread, owned by Bar and Lee Branton. Yeah, the Branton boys raise and sell horses to the government. Sure, and Gil raises cattle on the Branton's horses. Well, it seems like there's always been hard feelings between the Gormans and the Brantons. If they wasn't arguing about bounty lines, there was fighting over rights to water holes and such like. Yes, if I recollect the rights, the trouble started between old Ted Gorman and Judge Branton, isn't it? Yeah. And the boys are still at it. So when Gil married Mabel, the Branton boys started taking it out on me and said they was aiming to elect a new sheriff. I see. No, no, wait. You ain't heard the worst. Bob, well, Bob Branton was shot down and Gil was accused of the murder. Great, God, that's so funny. Has it been tried yet? Yep, the jury voted guilty. And unless something can be done to prove he's innocent before tomorrow morning, I'll have the job of hanging my own son-in-law. You'll begin then. Well, that's terrible, Sam. Yeah, it's got me all broke up. I'll admit the evidence is against him. But Gil says he didn't do the shooting. And I believe he's telling the truth. But we can't prove nothing. That's why I sent to you, Leighton, and thought maybe you could get to the bottom of this mess. Well, now, now, take it easy, Sam. We'll do all we can, of course. You say it's due to be hung tomorrow morning? Yeah, it's 6 o'clock. That don't give us much time, does it? I tried to get hold of you sooner, but they sent back word from Fort Anderson that you was up north. Yeah, we were, Sam. But let's don't waste any more time now. How do these things start and what happens? Well, Leighton, I think you ought to hear the story from Gil. Maybe he's back in the cell with him now. Good. Just so we can get this story straight, suppose you tell me what happened the night Bard was killed. Yeah, tell it just the way you didn't court Gil. Yeah. All right, honey. You see, Marshal, we've been having trouble with Russell stealing our cattle. And Bard Branton said it's how he'd been losing horses. Well, me and Maybell went out that night to look over the cattle. It was grazing by the creek. It runs between our ranch and the Branton ranch. We noticed that the cattle was acting kind of restless. What's making the stalks so nervous now? Look at them. Take with them rufflers again, Gil. Well, if it is, I'll be ready for them this time. I ain't used this gun for a long time. Use that gun away. Gil, and be careful what you do. Oh, and I don't you be worrying about me, honey. Just want to be sure it works. That's all. Gil, look over there by the creek bank. Fundoration. It's a bunch of horses. Yeah, but what are they doing on our side of the creek? Must be Branton's horses are straight over. Come on, honey. Wait, Gil. Somebody's coming. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Well, it's called Branton. Oh, I thought you'd get away with stealing my horses, eh, Norman? Stealing your horses? You heard me. Them horses over yonder belong to me. Of course they belong to you. And what are they doing over here on your land? Well, that's just what we want to know. Me and May will come out to look at our cattle and find the horses right here, because they must be straight over. That's the truth, Mr. Branton. Did any of my horses ever come across that creek on your land before? No. Then how do you explain they're being here tonight? I ain't explaining nothing. If they didn't stray across the creek, then somebody drove them over. Sure, somebody drove them over. And you was the one that did the driving. Why, you low-down farmer? Call me a horse thief, will you? No, don't you. Let her go by arm, maybe I'll join. No, no, Gil, wait, please. Newton won't help none. Yeah, hold your temple, Gil. I think we can talk this thing over quiet like this. There ain't going to be no more talking. You're at press pass and on my land, I got a right to drive you. Gil, please put that gun down. Never mind, honey. I'll handle this. I don't care, Bard. I'm giving you five minutes to drive them horses back across that creek where they belong. Sure. We reckon we can table this in court. Get moving, Bard. If I ever catch you over here again, I'll let you have a shot. Good lord. Is it? Is he? Yeah. He's dead. Shot through the head. This is terrible, Gil. Who could have done it? I don't know. The shot comes from Adam Cottonwood's yonder. Yeah. Well, do you think that he'll shoot again? I don't know. Hey, they'll blame me for this, but I didn't shoot him. You know I didn't shoot him. Of course you didn't, honey. Oh, Gil, what are we going to do with it? We better come across the creek and let them find him on his own land. But his brother Lee or one of his men might see him. We've got to take that chance. Wait. We're talking crazy. Pass Sheriff round here. He'll know that we're telling the truth. Yeah, he'll believe us. But will anybody else? Everybody knows they've been fighting going on between the Germans and Brattons for years. Oh, they've got to believe us. You go on and get Pa, and I'll stay here to get back. Go on, Gil. Go on, hurry up. All right, honey. He'll get to the bottom of this. Me and Gil stopped off at the Branton Ranch and brought Lee with us. Is that where he fell off the horse? Yeah, Lee. We ain't moved him down. He was shot through the back of the head. My own brother murdered. Over yonder is the Cottonwoods where the shot come from. Did you go there to see who it might have been? Well, no. I figured it wasn't any use to do that. Whoever it was would be sure to make a fast getaway. Yeah, if there's any tracks, we can find them now. Shot the best thing to do was get the sheriff and then let you know what happened. And those are the horses you found over here? Yeah. I already told you about Bart coming and accusing me of stealing them. We was arguing about that when the shot was fired. Yeah, that's honest truth, Mr. Branton. Sheriff, I think you'd ought to take a look at Gil's gun. What? Sure. Hand it over, Gil. Sure. There you are, Sam. One shell been fired. One shell? Yeah, I was trying out my gun, a five-one shot. Ah, that's a pretty thin story, Gorman. And I don't think it'll stand up. Hold on, Lee. Are you trying to say I killed Bart? I reckon that's for a court and jury to decide. But, Mr. Branton, Gil didn't kill Bart. I'm sorry, Mrs. Gorman, but my brother is dead. And I'm aiming to see his killer hung. That's what happened the night Bart was killed. Did you try to pick up the trail of the killer in the Cottonwoods? Yeah, yeah, we did. Sure, there was track. Fresh tracks of a horse. Well, where'd they lead to? North of Gil's Ranch. It's rocky country up in them ravines, and we lost the trail. I see. Well, what about the trial? There wasn't much to it. Gil just told his story, and Lee and other folks in town testified about the fighting between Gil and the Brantons. And, well, yeah, you know the verdict. It ain't fair. Gil's innocent. I'm sure he has missed, but thinking it ain't going to change things. We've got to find the real killer or uncover some new evidence before tomorrow morning. Do you think that there's a chance, Marshal? Sure, there's always a chance. Your friend, if one can figure this thing out, that's lightning him by godly. Sure, that's why I sent for him. Then, then you'll help us, Marshal. Well, you always can, but we ain't got no time to lose. Let's go back in the office. There's some question to want to ask you, Sam. Sure. And, uh, Gil? Yes, my man? Keep your face in courage, son. Remember, while there's life, there's always hope. Will Lightning Jim and Whitey find the real murderer in time to save Gil Gorman's life? The surprising climax of this thrilling story will come in part two, which follows immediately. And now for part two of Lightning Jim's Race Against Death. Gil Gorman, a local cattle rancher near the town of Meadville, has been tried and convicted for the murder of Bard Branton. Sam Stevens, the local sheriff, sent for his two old friends, Lightning Jim and Whitey Larson, in an effort to save Gil's life. Gil's wife, Mabel, is the sheriff's daughter. Lightning Jim and Whitey arrive in Meadville the day before Gil is scheduled to be hanged. They hear Gil's story and return with Mabel to the Gorman ranch. Well, Lightning seems like we were sluking for neither of his decks. Yeah, Whitey, we ain't got a lot to go on, neither. Not much time to work. Yeah, if we don't do something, we're going to hang Gil Gorman tomorrow at 6 o'clock. Yeah, and it's 7 now. That's just 11 hours more. Oh, see you ready, Mrs. Gorman, go. I'll have to look at the cattle in the South pasture. I'm sure I'll be back in a minute now. See, Whitey, while we're waiting, let's see if we can find a clue to work on in Gil's story. You're right, Nene. That's what I've been trying to do. Lightning. What's the trouble, Mrs. Gorman? Our cattle are gone. Gone? Yeah, while we were in town, somebody came down to the South pasture and ruffled a whole herd. You don't believe me. Did you follow the tracks? Yeah, they had north towards the ravine. You mean the same ravine, followed the trail of the Jigger to kill a board? That's right. Now we're getting somewhere. How many head of cattle was there? About 200. Come on, we'll get our horses and pick up that trail pronto. Well, it's just sereneness it would place to hide out. But all these rocks and caves are on there. Yeah, but none of these caves is big enough to hide a herd of cattle. You knew Gil's father, didn't you, Lightning? Oh, Ted Gorman was no friend of mine. Friend of my father's, and I met him when it was just a lad. Well, Pat always says that there was a Loch Canyon up here somewhere. A Loch Canyon. You know, but Gil and I never could find it. And old Ted loves to tell stories, though. And we figured it was a tall yard. Look out. Drop down off your horses. Go here. Move all you steady. Ooh. Yeah, keep behind these boulders. Yo, could you in a minute? There's lots of crows. You all right, Miss Gorman? Oh, sure. I'm a little shaky. Yeah, that's all right. Wait. You see that big white boulder against the side of the ravine, Whitey? Hey, yo. A man on horseback just went back of that boulder. Yo, that's where to shoot. Think going from it. Miss Gorman, you better stay here. Whitey and me is going after that, Jester. But I want to go with you. I'm not afraid. I know that, but you'll be safe. All right, chair. But if that's the killer, I want to be there when you catch me. I'm sorry, ma'am, but I want you to stay right here. Yeah, take this gun for protection. We'll come back and pick you up. Come on, Whitey. Yeah, I wish you would. Let's go, Thunder. But there ain't nobody there. Well, Thunder. Watch the matter, Lightning. Look, Whitey, there's an open passage behind that boulder. Oh, well, what do you know about that? Come on. After him, Thunder. See where you think the course, Lightning. I reckon we'll soon find out. Easy now. Jump in here when they look down there, Lightning. They lost Canyon. Looks that way. Probably a landslide covered up the entrance, leaving this mountain. See, see, there's that Yager shooting again. Yeah, and what he's too far below to be shooting at us. And then who is he shooting at? Well, that's what we're going to find out. Come on, Whitey. Get to that Yager's hiding in that shack, Karen. Yeah, keep behind the trees, and we'll sneak up on him. You're Lightning. Easy now. I'm going to call to him. Hey, you in there. Come out with your hands in the air. I'm a United States Marshal. You're under arrest. You better come peaceable, or we're going to let you have it. Hold on, Whitey. This may be a trick. But I can peek through the window here. Careful, Whitey. See, Lightning. There's a Yager in there, Lee, in on the floor. Anybody else? No. No, I can't see. Nobody. All right, here's the door. Oh, it's all right, Marshal. Come in. I'm done for. There's his gun on the floor. Yeah. Who shot you, mister? He did. The dirty double cross. He did. No, he's just fated. He's it bad, but maybe we can help him a little. Gee, read, Lightning. Read somebody's score, men. Read for the sky, quick. Don't do, Lightning. Mr. Score, men by Godly. Thought I told you to stay back in the ravine. I'm sorry, Lightning, but I had to come. I followed you through the path. I just saw a cattle out there. Is he dead? Not yet. You know who he is? I can't see his face very well. Like that candle, Whitey. You know, whoever she's going to do that. There we are. Now take a good look at him, Mrs. Gorman. Oh, good heaven. You know him? Yes. Yes, but I can't believe it. Oh, he's coming over. Where's the Marshal? I'm right here, mister. I'm cashing in a chip's Marshal. He got me, but I'll fix him. I'll tell you who killed Bob Branton. Word yet, Sam? Not yet, Gil. But there's still time. What time is it? About five. Yeah, one hour more. Where's Mabel? Why don't she come back? I'll take it easy, Gil. She'll be long directly. There's nothing they can do now. It's too late. No, it ain't. Listen, son, I got a feeling somehow that Lighting and Jim is going to come through to save your life. Hurry, daughters. Yeah, we're going to see him swing by. I just didn't know I was with anyone. It's after 6 o'clock now. Not according to my watch, it ain't. What time you got? 5.30. Hey. Hey, you fellas. Quiet. Quiet, you fellas. What is it, Lee? Any of you chaps got a watch? Yeah. What time you got? Uh, 6 o'clock. Yeah, that's what mine says, but the sheriff says it's only 5.30. Looks like he's trying to stall, boy. Come on, let's get the hanging over with. I don't care what you say. This hanging is going according to my time, and I says it's 5.30. We've got to figure some way to stall for time, Gil. It's too late for that now, Sam. If Mabel had only come. Oh, I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't mean to step on your bed. Wait, I got an idea. Hey, you're going to hang him, sheriff? How do you want us to do it for you? Next call of you. I'm the sheriff here, and I'll run this hanging my own way. This ain't a drinking party. Are you men or a pack of wolves waiting for the kills? Now, you're facing death, and howling for blood like redskins at a scalping party. The law says Gil Gorman murdered Bob Brinton, and the law says he's got to hang for it. Now, when I took office, as your sheriff, I swore to uphold law and order. I've always told men. But now, now the law says I got to hang my own son-in-law. I know that Gil ain't guilty, and I ain't hanging an innocent man. You're the sheriff, Sam. You mean I was the sheriff, but none of them are. I'm resigning here and now. And you ain't hanging Gil till somebody has been legally appointed in my place. Ah, it won't work, Sam. You ain't legally resigned till you make it formal to the court. Are you going to carry out the law, Sam? No, I ain't hanging him, and you can't make me. Then your deputy can do it for you. Slap it on him, Joe. No, you can't do this! Put that gun down, Sam. I've got you covered. You're resisting the law, and we aim to carry it out. Ready, Joe? Yeah. When I give you the word, spring the trap. So long, Sam. Tell Mabel I said goodbye. Sure. I will. Goodbye, son. Now stand back, Sam. No one! Wait! What's the big idea? For you, anyway. The United States Marshal. Lightning, Jim. Thank God you're coming. The Marshal. Which one of you is Lee Branson? This is him, right here, Lightning. Yeah, and I'm aiming to seek Gil Gorman hung for murder in my brother. But the sheriff here has lost his nerve. Now you're a Marshal. Maybe you can persuade him to carry out the law. Sure, Brandon. I reckon the sheriff will be glad to. But the hanging won't include Gil Gorman. Reach for the sky, Brandon. Hey, hey, hey, hey. You can't do this. Take his gun, Sheriff. With pleasure. There. Keep him covered, Sheriff. Don't think... What is it, anyway? You can't do this. Just be quiet, boys. You will be interested in what I got to say. You see this paper in my hand? It's a written confession that tells who it was that murdered Bard Branson. Who done it, Lightning? Bard Branson was shot down by his own brother. Brother? Well, I had to not fear it might have been Lee. Oh, you're wrong, Sam. It wasn't Lee. But you just said that Bard was killed by his brother. That's right. Did you know that Bard and Lee had a younger brother but the name was Chet Branson? Well, sure. But Chet ran away from home about 10 years ago and he'd been around here since. Wait a minute. Well, Chet came back after escaping from a jail in Texas. He hid out in the lost canyon north of the Gorman Ranch. Lee gave him cash and the two of them did a little private business in rustling cattle and stealing government horses. He knew that Chet hated his older brother, Bard, and it was Lee who paid Chet to run the Branson horses on the Gorman Ranch and shoot down Bard from ambush. This gave Lee full control of the Branson Ranch. But where's Chet? Now. He's in a shack up in Lost Canyon. Yesterday, Chet wrestled the Gorman cattle and Lee went up to the canyon and shot him down. We found Chet and before he died, he rode out this full confession. Where's the knife? Chef, the prisoner's yours. And see that you carry out the law. You bet I will. And God bless you, Lightning Jim. Another thrilling chapter in the lives of United States Marshal Lightning Jim Whipple and his deputy, Whitey Lawson.