Barton Boy: A Witness Too Young to Die

Originally Aired: October 1, 1955

When a train robbery leaves baggage clerk Ed Barton dead and his young son Billy gravely wounded, Marshal Dillon launches an urgent investigation into one of the coldest killings Dodge has seen. The strongbox is missing, the killer vanished, and the only witness is a ten-year-old boy with a bullet graze and a broken heart.

As Matt shelters Billy in the jail for his protection, the boy’s memory of the killer’s voice becomes the key to unlocking the mystery. But time is running out—the murderer is still in Dodge, and he knows Billy survived. While Matt interrogates half the town, suspicion slowly builds toward a familiar figure: Laura, Ed’s fiancée, now rekindling a romance with a shadowy man named Taggart.

In a devastating twist, a poisoned slice of cake reveals Laura’s complicity. As the law closes in, Taggart is gunned down during a desperate escape, and Laura confronts Matt in a tense showdown, gun in hand. But justice prevails, and Billy, the boy who couldn’t forget a voice, brings the killers to light.

A gripping tale of betrayal, innocence, and revenge, Barton Boy is Gunsmoke at its most heart-wrenching and suspenseful.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Virginia Christine (Laura), Richard Fields (Taggart), Lawrence Dobkin (Ed Barton), with special appearances by the Gunsmoke radio company.

Welcome to Gunsmoke: Old West Stories, a podcast that takes you back to the rugged plains of 1870s Dodge City, Kansas. Rediscover the timeless tales of bravery, justice, and survival in the American frontier with our re-broadcasts of the classic Gunsmoke radio program.

First airing on April 26, 1952, Gunsmoke was celebrated as the first adult western radio show, renowned for its superb storytelling and exceptional production quality. Join Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by the incomparable William Conrad, as he faces the challenges of maintaining law and order in a tumultuous town. Alongside him are unforgettable characters like Chester Proudfoot (Parley Baer), the steadfast deputy; Kitty (Georgia Ellis), the resilient saloon owner; and Doc Adams (Howard McNear), the town’s compassionate physician.

What sets Gunsmoke apart is not just its stellar cast and engaging plots but the immersive sound effects that bring each scene to life. Every gunshot, horse gallop, and whisper of the wind transports you directly to the heart of the Old West.

Whether you're a longtime fan or a new listener, Gunsmoke: Old West Stories promises to deliver gripping adventures and a nostalgic journey through one of radio’s most iconic series. Tune in and let the legends of Dodge City captivate your imagination.