Speaker 1: If you didn't commit this murder, you'll go free. If
you did, I'll see that.
Speaker 2: You hang have gone.
Speaker 3: We'll travel, Starring mister John Daymer as Paladin, San Francisco,
eighteen seventy five. The Carlton Hotel, headquarters of a man
called Paladin.
Speaker 2: Wow, good morning, missus Wong.
Speaker 4: I was just coming to your room. Must see you
a matter of great importance. When you look disturbed, mister Paladin,
you talk to lady for miss.
Speaker 2: Wall Well what lady?
Speaker 4: She very sick and now has great trouble. Could you
see her?
Speaker 5: Please?
Speaker 4: Miss Woe already tell her you will.
Speaker 2: Come if you think I should.
Speaker 4: Very good, come please.
Speaker 2: Miss one. Who is this lady?
Speaker 4: She's guest in the hotel. Doctor come to her every day.
She's very sick in bed. No, she's very sad. You
see in here? Please missus Thomas, there is mister Paladin.
I told you he would come. Thank you, dear mister Paladin.
M h there's missus Thomas.
Speaker 2: How do you do? Miss Wan says you'd like to
talk to me?
Speaker 4: Yes, won't you have a seat, mister Paladin.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Miss Wan, must.
Speaker 4: Go now, Miss Wan, I appreciate your bringing. Mister Peladin
to see me. Thank you so much, Ohia, very welcome.
Good morning, mister Peladin. I'm missus Clell Thomas. I've been
under a doctor's care here in the hotel for several days.
This morning I received this telegram. It explains why I
want to see you. You may read it here.
Speaker 1: I'm holding Clell for murder of Bill Watkins. You shouldn't
come home as soon as possible. Clell does not know
I'm telegraphing you. Sign sheriff. Clell is your husband.
Speaker 4: Yes, mister Pellanin. I don't know what this is all about.
Speaker 2: And you want me to take your home, isn't it?
Speaker 4: No? No, I've been ill and I couldn't possibly travel now.
We live in way Rica. I want you to go
there for me. I'll pay you one thousand a thousand.
Speaker 2: Why what can I do prove.
Speaker 4: That my husband didn't commit murder? Will you do it?
Speaker 2: What makes you think he didn't, Missus Thummas.
Speaker 4: A woman knows her husband. Claire is strong, impulsive, mister Paladin.
He wouldn't commit murder. A mistake is being made.
Speaker 2: Please all right, I'll do what I can.
Speaker 1: Wa Rika, California was a long ride north from San Francisco,
through valleys of golden wheat and tall Timothy. I spent
half a day in the shadow of Mount Shasta and
then beyond into the mountains. But I finally came to
a bustling town of plaster miners and leather tongue bullwhackers.
Speaker 5: I pulled up at a hitch rail near the jail.
We got room for two horses. Here go get a boat.
Pushing your horse around? Yeah, I see him.
Speaker 1: Heytranger, settle down.
Speaker 2: Hey you Yeah, I can hear without your hollering. You're
talking to me.
Speaker 5: He's a smile all of kind. Heyy, Henry, Yeah, I
better teach him something. That's my horse. You kicked as a.
Speaker 2: Boy, Henry, I didn't kick that horse.
Speaker 3: Nobody touches my horse.
Speaker 5: I'm gonna cut you open like a melon.
Speaker 1: You've had a little too much to drink, mister. I'll
put that knife away.
Speaker 5: You ain't gonna tell you, Henry, no, oh.
Speaker 2: No, I listen. I warned you, keep back. I don't
want to hurt you.
Speaker 5: Now, son, come hurt me. You ain't gonna hurt me.
Speaker 2: I told you, Hey.
Speaker 5: Henry, Henry, Henry, you ain't getting up. You're his friend,
you better dump him in that horse trough and get
him sobered up.
Speaker 2: You didn't need to hit him so hard. I'd be
all right, let me go here.
Speaker 5: What happened. I'll tell you what happened, Sheriff.
Speaker 2: Henry has been beat up. Yeah, she did this man
that he came at me with a knife. Don't listen
to him.
Speaker 6: A shoff this stranger and started kicking Henry's horse around
and let me jump Henry.
Speaker 5: Oh he did, did he?
Speaker 3: Henry was only trying to protect himself.
Speaker 5: We don't cotton with troublemakers, miss town. Mister what brings
you here anyway?
Speaker 1: I didn't start the trouble. I came here to see
a man named Clel Thomas.
Speaker 5: You'll see him real soon light. He's in the same
cells you're going to. I'm arresting you for assaultant battery
on whose complaint? Right now? My old and Henry Thomas
is there when he wakes up? Thomas is any relation
to Claude Thomas?
Speaker 7: Yeah?
Speaker 5: Your son? I start walking. What's your name, mister Paladin?
Speaker 2: Yeah? In here.
Speaker 5: You can hand over that gun.
Speaker 2: Paladin.
Speaker 5: It'll be real safe with me till you get out
of jail.
Speaker 2: I guess I have no choice here. You say i'd
be in the same cell as mister Thomas.
Speaker 5: That's right. I'm making it real convenient for you to
talk to him. Brought you some company, Claw, you'll have
someone to swear advertise me mine. Well, I'm getting there, Jeff.
Speaker 6: What's the doctor say about Judge Baker?
Speaker 5: And says he's well enough to hold the bail here?
And it's about time.
Speaker 2: I've been waiting a week?
Speaker 5: When is it this afternoon? Out to Judge's wrench? Doc
won't let him come to town.
Speaker 6: Does a judge know I want the city council sitting
his grand jury?
Speaker 5: He knows he'll be there, then it ought to come
off just fine. Uh, Claire, this man arrested? His name,
Paladin said, once talked to you?
Speaker 2: Ah, what about your wife?
Speaker 5: Sent me Mary? Where'd you see Mary? San Francisco? I
wish she she's better, but she won't be able to
travel for a few days.
Speaker 6: Oh, there's one consolation. All this will be over with
before she knows about it.
Speaker 1: She knows about it now she does. Oh well, someone
someone sent her a telegram.
Speaker 5: Clail, Maybe I better get this man out of here.
Speaker 2: Shut up, Jeb.
Speaker 6: Who sent her a telegram, Paladin, she didn't tell me
who it was. Why did she send you? She wants
me to prove that you didn't commit murder, Jeb, why
do you arrest this man you beat up on?
Speaker 5: Henry?
Speaker 2: Henry? Is he all right?
Speaker 5: All right?
Speaker 6: Claile, don't worry, mister. You stay away from my son.
If you don't, you'll have to answer to me, and
you better teach them some manners, Jeb. I want this
man out.
Speaker 5: Of here, sure, Clail. I'll turn him loose if you
say so.
Speaker 6: And you, Paladin, I want you out of town in
an hour.
Speaker 1: Look, your wife has hired me to come here, and
I won't leave until my job is finished.
Speaker 6: My wife doesn't run my affairs, Paladin, I do, and
I don't need you or anybody else to keep me
from the short end of a rope. I'll get out.
Speaker 8: Of this in my own way.
Speaker 1: Sheriff Miller was more than willing to go along with
Clell's demand, so I was released from jail.
Speaker 2: I hadn't learned very much.
Speaker 1: About the murder charge placed against kel Thomas, but I
knew the local saloon would be a good place to
hear the latest gossip.
Speaker 2: As it turned out.
Speaker 1: The saloon was owned by a girl named Sally Morgan,
an old friend of mine from San Francisco. She had
owned a place on the Barbary Coast until the politicians
decided they'd help her spend the profits, so she just
closed up and dropped out of sight. It was good
to see her and we talked over a cool picture
of lager beer.
Speaker 9: Soqwell threw you out of jail.
Speaker 5: Yeah, Tariff Miller doesn't seem to have much to say
when it comes to Clell's demand.
Speaker 9: Wow, they're good friends. Well's a big important man in
this town. He gets whatever he wants.
Speaker 2: Oh does that mean he wants to be in jail?
Speaker 9: I think he does. Too many people are against him
since they think he killed Bill Watkins. He'll get out
on bail as soon as they have a hearing. In
the meantime, it looks good like Sheriff Miller is doing
his duty. You know, you're lucky Clell wanted you out
of jail, especially after you tangle with Henry.
Speaker 2: Yeah, what's the money with that boy?
Speaker 9: He tries to be like his father, but he can't
bring it all.
Speaker 4: Henry's a weakling. Clail sticks up for him.
Speaker 9: No, matter what I fixed. Henry though, Oh, well, one
thing Clall doesn't hold with his gambling.
Speaker 4: Henry owed me a.
Speaker 9: Heap of losses, So I threatened to tell his dad
if he didn't pay up.
Speaker 2: What did he ever pay? Oh?
Speaker 9: He sure did three days ago, thirty five hundred.
Speaker 2: Dollars thirty five Does the boy have that kind of money?
Speaker 9: No, but Clell's got plenty. Henry probably cooked up some story.
Speaker 2: Tell me about the murders.
Speaker 9: Sally Well next to Clell, Bill Watkins was the biggest
cattleman around here. Last week, he and Clell got into
an argument over a broken fence between their spreads and
almost shot each other on the spot. Next day, Watkins
was found in his house, shot in the back. People
figured Clell took care of Watkins the easy way. They'd
had trouble before.
Speaker 2: Do you think Clell didn't Well, I never.
Speaker 9: Thought he'd shoot anybody in the back, but everybody says
he must have. That day, somebody saw his horse tied
up outside of watkins house. Well, how long are you
going to be in town, Paladin?
Speaker 2: Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1: Clell's wife hired me to prove he didn't commit murder. Oh,
I'll stay till I find out who did you know?
Speaker 6: Paladin?
Speaker 9: One thing I can't figure out is why Clell doesn't
want you.
Speaker 2: To help clear him.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I can't either unless he Sally. You said mister
Watkins was shot in his home.
Speaker 2: That's right? Is anyone there now?
Speaker 9: No?
Speaker 4: He lived alone since his wife died.
Speaker 2: What I'd like to have a look around the house.
Speaker 4: Well, it's locked up. Sheriff Miller has the keys.
Speaker 9: But I bet he'd take you out there.
Speaker 4: If I were to ask him to.
Speaker 9: Would you mind not for an old friend like you, Paladin?
Speaker 5: Here we are, I remember, Paladin, I ain't doing this
for you. Mi's for Sally and also for mister Thomas future.
Fine woman. I'm sure she is Clell now he's one
of my best friends. No matter what he done, he
wouldn't like me showing you around here, though.
Speaker 2: Tref Where was Watkins killed?
Speaker 5: It's very room. I found him lying face down in
front of the fireplace here. I figure he was reaching
for his rifle when he was shot.
Speaker 2: I see where does this door lead to closet?
Speaker 5: What are you doing that for? Ain't nothing in there? No,
what are you hoping to find? Paladin? I'm not sure
you won't find nothing. I left his place over real good?
Speaker 2: Maybe not? And what's this just to loose floorboard?
Speaker 5: That don't be nothing?
Speaker 2: Does it? Maybe not?
Speaker 5: Say? How come there ain't dirt under there?
Speaker 2: Look?
Speaker 5: Here will be a cedar wood platform built under that floor.
You think it's got something to do with the killing Paladin.
Speaker 1: Sheriff and mister Watkins bank his money in way Rika,
I wouldn't know about that.
Speaker 5: You're thinking he kept it here and somebody stole it
from him.
Speaker 2: Could be? Come on, let's get back to town.
Speaker 1: At the bank, I learned that mister Watkins was considered
something of a miser. He would make deposits of nearly
ten thousand dollars twice a year. When he was killed,
he hadn't been in for five months. I went to
the jail and found that the sheriff had taken Clell
out to Judge Baker's ranch for the bail hearing. But
the time I got there was almost dark and the hearing.
Speaker 2: Was over healing.
Speaker 1: Judge was in his study, lying on the couch, resting
from the stream of the proceedings.
Speaker 2: Uh sit on, Paladin, thank you, sir.
Speaker 1: Clell's gone back to town to celebrate Jerry let him
out on bail. Yeah, I figured they wouldn't. What's your business, paladin, Judge?
Do you think Clell Thomas would steal?
Speaker 2: No, No, he wouldn't do that. Why would he.
Speaker 1: He's got as much money as any man needskell wouldn't steal.
Speaker 2: But I do think he's capable of murder.
Speaker 1: Well, I have reason to believe this was a killing
for money. Oh yeah, what makes you think?
Speaker 5: So?
Speaker 1: I found where mister Watkins had hidden a large sum
of money.
Speaker 2: It was gone. You know what's going on outside?
Speaker 1: Huh? And see two men are hurting cattle into your pasture. Well,
why I didn't order that done?
Speaker 2: He judge? A stampede.
Speaker 5: Well, how can it be. Cattle don't stampede in their
own background?
Speaker 2: Punch shots?
Speaker 5: What's going on?
Speaker 2: I don't know, judge, but I'll find out for you.
Speaker 5: Outside I mounted my horse and raced down to the pasture.
But before I could help, one of the men did
a foolish thing. He went to the point of the
herd and tried to stop them. His horse tripped and
he went down.
Speaker 1: I managed to get my horse into position to prevent
some of the herd from passing over him. It was
then I realized that the man on the ground was
Henry Thomas. The best I could do was make him comfortable.
His friend jug came up and stood nearby.
Speaker 5: Oh is he hurt?
Speaker 9: Bad?
Speaker 2: Yeah? I'm fraid. So is he going to die? Henry?
Henry here, you're palad and.
Speaker 3: You're a friend of Mars.
Speaker 5: Yes, I'm dying and no you just just rest easy?
Speaker 2: What till mom? I'm sorry? Yes, I don't let him
hang paw. It was me I kill Watkins.
Speaker 5: I needed the money.
Speaker 2: You still I'm hearing me. I can't see you no more, kids,
see nothing? Is he dead?
Speaker 5: He's dead? Juddon this herd of cattle? Why were you
bringing them here? It was a bribe fifty head. His
old man told Henry to do it, so that was
his way to influence the judge at the murder trial.
Judge didn't know about it. Jud you heard what Henry
said before he died. Yeah, if you had to testify
in court, what.
Speaker 2: Would you say? I guess I'd have to tell it
the way I heard it for you. Just be sure
you remember that. All right? Here, give me a hand.
I better take Henry back to his father.
Speaker 6: Ah ooh, I have a good time.
Speaker 2: Folks, the drinks around me a nice you know, are clell?
Speaker 7: Hell?
Speaker 2: I thought, I told well, it's Henry.
Speaker 5: What about Henry.
Speaker 6: Told you to stay away from him.
Speaker 2: That's Henry across my horse. He's dead. Ella, did all
you listen to me? Cloll kill you with my bare hands?
Tell you stop? Only boy I got and you killed him.
I didn't, cell I warned you. Let me go. Clell
to me, you kill Henry? What if anybody killed him?
Speaker 1: You did the cattle you were sending the judge Baker
stampede and Henry tried to stop them.
Speaker 2: No, Paladin, don't say that. Don't say it. You knew
he killed Watkins. He'd had to be him.
Speaker 6: He took my horse that day. I was trying to
help him, protect him. It's what a father's for, is it.
I was going to let people think I did it.
They'd never have convicted me.
Speaker 2: Maybe not. Well, I'll help you with your boy.
Speaker 7: H No, no, I'll take care of him. I'll take
care of Henry.
Speaker 1: Oh h hello, hey boy, did you tell me see Thomas?
Speaker 2: Yes? I told her he saw.
Speaker 1: She very sad, now.
Speaker 2: Yes, yes she is. I'm afraid that I had to
leave when she started to cry, Miss Wong is with her.
Speaker 1: Now, Oh yes, miss Wong will be very understanding. You
have dinner yet, No, I thought I'd go for a
walk first. Will you please to follow? Hey boy, hey boy,
please all right my own room, please to enter? All right,
dinner all prepared much better here?
Speaker 2: Hey boy? What a surprise did you go to? All
this trouble? Oh lord, much trouble?
Speaker 1: Your favorite dinner for me?
Speaker 2: Crab meat?
Speaker 1: So filet? Pull let a lad, Dennis?
Speaker 2: What pull let alad Dennis?
Speaker 1: Oh hey boy, you won't believe this all the way back.
This is the very meal I dreamed about, the very meal. Oh,
hey boy, know, hey boy, believe Misa Paladin? Sit down now?
Speaker 2: Have do you know? Yes, hey boy?
Speaker 1: Hey yeah, here boy know how to take care of you?
Speaker 3: Have Gun Will Travel? Created by Herb Meadow and Sam
Roff is prodeuced stand directed in Hollywood by Frank Parris,
and stars John Dayner as Paladin, with Ben Wright as
hey Boy and Virginia Gregg as Miss One. Tonight's story
was specially written for half Gun Will Travel by Tom Henley.
Featured in the cast were Anne Morrison, Shirley Mitchell Ralph Moody,
Sam Edwards, pauled You, Bob and Jack Miles. This is
Hugh Douglas inviting you to join us again next week
when CBS Radio presents Have Gun will travel the