Episode 50
Writer: Judy George and George W. George
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 12/01/1959
Cast
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance
Guest Cast
Paul Carr made four guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode. He played Derek Hanaway in "Shivaree" (episode 19), Garth Healey in "The Woman" (episode 32), Fred Harris in "Letter of the Law" (episode 50), and Doug Carter in "Smoke Screen" (episode 68).
Fox guest-starred in many popular television shows, including the sci-fi anthology series "Science Fiction Theatre" (1955–1957), the suspense anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the crime dramas "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the superhero parody "Batman" (1966–1968), the sci-fi series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964–1968), the espionage thriller "Mission Impossible" (1966–1973), the western action adventure series "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969) and the Michael Crichton medical drama, "ER" (1994–2009). He also had several recurring roles, including Blake Yedor in the western "Trackdown" (1957–1959), Coroner George McLeord in the detective series "Burke's Law" (1963–1966), various autopsy surgeons in the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), Amos Fedders in the primetime soap opera "Falcon Crest" (1981–1990) and Saul Feinberg in the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful" (1987).
Fox made four guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Trager in "The Trade" (episode 24), Abel in "Letter of the Law" (episode 50), Joe Hannah in "The Hangman" (episode 76) and Jim Oxford in "Miss Milly" (episode 84). He guest-starred in a few other westerns, including "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness; and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck.
John Goddard is an American film and television actor. He has appeared in nearly 60 movies and television shows in a career spanning more than 20 years. He has appeared in quite a few of crime dramas, beginning with a leading role in "Gangbusters" (1952), co-starring Richard Crane and Robert Bice, and also "Dragnet" (1951–1959), starring Jack Webb, "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), starring David Janssen, "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Ironside" (1967–1975), both starring Raymond Burr. Goddard made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Naylor in "One Went to Denver" (episode 25) and Davis in "Letter of the Law" (episode 50). He also guest-starred in several other popular westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian, "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring Ward Bond and later John McIntire, "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury and Doug McClure, and "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), starring Fess Parker.
Ken Lynch was a prolific American charactor actor of radio, film and television, especially crime dramas. He appeared in nearly 180 movies and television shows during a career spanning almost 35 years. As a character actor, he was noted for his imposing presence, which made him well-suited to the roles of tough street cops and detectives. Although he got his start in radio dramas, his work would take him to Hollywood, where he appeared in popular films and television shows. Despite his high visibility in television, Lynch had several memorable film roles, including Det. Sgt. James Durgo in the crime drama "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), starring James Stewart, Lee Remick and Ben Gazzara; the Chicago policeman Charley in the Alfred Hitchcock romantic mystery adventure "North by Northwest" (1959), starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint; and Captain Johnson in the crime drama "Dead Ringer" (1964), starring Bette Davis, Karl Malden and Peter Lawford.
Lynch guest-starred in a variety of crime dramas throughout his career, including "M Squad" (1957–1960), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), "Adam–12" (1968–1975), "Mannix" (1967–1975), "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972–1977) and "Barnaby Jones" (1973–1980). He appeared in many other popular television shows of the 1950s through the 80s, including the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the horror series "Thriller" (1960–1962), the legal dramas "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Ironside" (1967–1975), the medical drama "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966), the adventure dramas "The Fugitive" (1963–1967) and "Kung Fu" (1972–1975), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), the classic sci-fi series "Star Trek" (1966–1969), the family comedy "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968), the war comedy "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964–1969), and the romantic war drama "The Winds of War" (1983).
Lynch played several recurring roles, including the lieutenant in the crime drama "The Plainclothesman" (1949–1954), Pablo in the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959), Andy Gorman in the western "The Tall Man" (1960–1962), Lt. Thomas Brand in the crime drama "Checkmate" (1960–1962), Lt. Det. Tom Handley in the crime drama "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964) and Lt. Barney Keller in the action crime drama "Honey West" (1965–1966); however, he is best-remembered for his portrayal of Police Sergeant Grover in the crime drama "McCloud" (1970–1977). He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Karl Galt in "Letter of the Law" (episode 50). He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Rawhide" (1959–1966), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Bonanza" (1959–1973) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).
Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor, director, screenwriter and producer whose career spanned nearly three decades. He debuted in the film "Blackboard Jungle" (1955) following his signing with MGM. Although his first major role was in film, Morrow was primarily a television actor, appearing in more than 30 different shows and made-for-TV films during his lifetime. In 1963, Morrow received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) for his recurring role as Sergeant Chip Saunders in the World War II television series "Combat!" (1962–1967). He played a key role in the film "The Bad News Bears" (1976); however, he did not appear in the sequels.
Morrow appeared in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Johnny Cotton in "The Angry Gun" (episode 12) and Brett Stocker in "Letter of the Law" (episode 50). Much to his dismay, Morrow was typecast as the villain, appearing with Martin Sheen as the homicidal sheriff in the TV film "The California Kid" (1974). On July 23, 1982, Morrow and two child actors were killed in an on-set accident during filming of John Landis' "Twilight Zone: The Movie" (1983). The film was eventually released with the scene omitted.
Milton Parsons, born Ernest Milton Parsons, was an American film and television character actor who tended to be typecast playing macabre eccentrics. He appeared in more than 150 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly 40 years. Many of his early roles were uncredited. He guest-starred in an eclectic variety of shows, including the crime dramas "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the Boris Karloff 's gothic horror series "Thriller" (1960–1962), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), and the action-adventure series "Kung Fu" (1972–1975), starring David Carradine as a Shaolin Monk. Parsons made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying A. Parker in "Letter of the Law" (episode 50) and the old man in "Strange Town" (episode 81). He also guest-starred in the westerns "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker, and "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood.
Harlan Warde was an American actor who appeared in 180 films and television series over a 40 year career. Most of his early film roles were uncredited. He appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank. His character debuted in "The Safeguard" (episode 8). Warde had recurring roles in other television series, many in the Western genre. Among his many other TV credits, he also appeared in "Dragnet" ( 1954), "You Are There" (1953–1956), "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1955 1957), "Perry Mason" (1958–1966), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Bonanza" (1962–1972), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969) and "The Fugitive" (1966 1967).
Rhys Williams was a Welsh character actor in movies and television, whose career spanned the 1940's through 1970. He made his film debut in "How Green Was My Valley" (1941). Rural Wales was the setting of this John Ford classic film, and it featured a large cast of Welsh characters; although, it was actually filmed in Hollywood with American, Irish and Scottish actors. Williams, who was the only genuine Welshman in the cast, originally was hired as a dialect coach for the other actors, but director John Ford gave Williams a role in the film.
Williams is recognizable to fans of the television series "Adventures of Superman," in which he played a sadistic character in one of the show's early episodes, "The Evil Three." Other television appearances included CBS's anthology series, "The DuPont Show with June Allyson," co-starring Steve Allen in the 1960 episode "Play Acting," and five episodes of General Electric Theater between 1956 and 1961. Williams also appeared in "The Donna Reed Show" (1958), "Temple Houston" (1963), "77 Sunset Strip" (1964), "Twelve O'Clock High" (1964-1966), "The F.B.I." (1966), "The Wild Wild West" (1966), "Mission Impossible" (1967), the "Andy Griffith Show" (1967), "Mannix" (1969), "Here Comes the Brides" (1969), among many other shows. Williams appeared in six episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, one of six actors to portray the regular character, Doc Burrage. He appeared in "Blood Brothers" (episode 35), "Bloodlines" (episode 42), "Letter of the Law" (episode 50), "A Case of Identity" (episode 57), "Sins of the Father" (episode 70), and "The Prodigal" (episode 71).
Marshal Torrance has jailed the notorious outlaw, Brett Stocker. Stocker's gang lures Micah out of town and ambushes him, then sends a note back to North Fork threatening that Micah will die unless Stocker is released. Lucas, acting as deputy Marshal, is faces with the problem of allowing a ruthless killer to go free, or condemning his friend Micah to death.