The Gypsum Hills Feud: Blood for Blood

Originally Aired: April 16, 1955

The Gypsum Hills Feud: Blood for Blood

In this rugged and emotionally charged episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester ride through the rough country southeast of Dodge—Gypsum Hills—only to stumble into the middle of a long-running feud between two stubborn frontier families: the Peeveys and the Cades.

It begins when Matt is nearly ambushed by a mysterious shooter. Tracking the assailant leads him to Alvin Peevey, a hard, isolated man living with his wife and father in a small, worn-out homestead. Peevey denies any wrongdoing, but when he and his wife return the next day hauling a wagon with a dead man’s body—claiming they simply found it—Matt knows there’s more going on.

Enter Jack Cade and his wife Ellen, rifles in hand, out for revenge. The dead man, Ben Cade, was their son—and they’re convinced Peevey is the killer. But as the tension builds and the guns come out, Matt uncovers a deeper truth. It was neither Peevey nor Cade who fired the fatal shot—it was Matt himself, in self-defense, after being fired on from ambush by a man he believed to be Peevey.

The feud, built on years of blood and blame, comes to a tragic yet peaceful end as the two grieving fathers agree to bury their sons side by side—closing a violent chapter in the Gypsum Hills and choosing coffee and conversation over killing.

Keywords: "Gunsmoke The Gypsum Hills Feud episode," "April 1955 Gunsmoke radio," "Matt Dillon frontier justice story," "Peevey vs. Cade family feud," "Ben Cade death mystery," "John Meston Gunsmoke script," "Western drama about forgiveness."

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), John Dehner (Jack Cade), Vic Perrin (Alvin Peevey), B.B. Janis (Liza Peevey).

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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.