Slaughter's my name. Luke Slaughter.
Cattle's my business.
It's a tough business.
It's big business.
I've got a big stake in it.
And there's no man west of the Rio Grande
big enough to take it from me.
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone.
Civil War cavalry man turned Arizona cattleman.
Across the territory from Yuma to Fort Defiance
from Flagstaff to the Wachukas
and below the border through Chihuahua and Sonora
his name was respected or feared
depending on which side of the law you were on.
Man of vision. Man of legend.
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone.
Folks who write dictionaries must have a pretty tough time
with the word tolerance.
I guess if you had to boil it down to just one other word
maybe it would be understanding.
Some of us here in Tombstone found that out
when I gave Chief Margano and a few of his Apache Braves
the loan of a couple of sections of my spread
to try their hand at cattle raising.
And I got chewed out plenty about it
every time I went into town.
Well you call it an experiment Slaughter.
I call it an invitation to those sneaking Apaches
to murder you.
Well they're living on my spread.
Don't you figure it's my business?
They won't stop with you.
Once they smell white blood again
they'll massacre everybody in Tombstone.
Well Margano's through making war.
He's trying to understand our ways.
He's even trying to get his people to adopt some of them.
Well they adopted guns quick enough
but they'll never be cattlemen.
This was their country before it was ours.
They've got a right to be part of its progress.
You can't just shut the Apaches up on a reservation
and forget them.
No maybe we can't forget them.
But if we drive them back to the Cherokawas
we'll at least have some warning when they strike.
They aren't going to strike.
Margano and I have sort of a private treaty.
Margano's a senile old fool.
You got a private treaty with that trigger tempered son of his?
Blasher.
I like him too.
He's intelligent and he's got spunk.
Spunk my foot.
Luke, I've been looking all over for you.
I want you to make the acquaintance of Mr. Henry Fell
from back east.
Fell, this here is Luke Slaughter my boss.
And this here is Carter Vail, another big man in these parts.
Howdy.
A distinct pleasure gentlemen, indeed it is.
So you're from back east Mr. Fell.
Yes indeed, Boston.
You know boys, Mr. Fell here
can out draw any man in the place.
Well he can my guy, yes sir.
I bet a month's wages he can even out draw you Luke.
I'm afraid neither Mr. Fell nor myself
have any special reason for drawing.
Well he's got plenty of reasons.
Oh not necessarily against you of course.
He'll take on all comers.
You think you could out draw me, Fell?
I have very little doubt of it Mr. Vail.
With what?
You aren't even packing an iron.
Well you want to take him on Mr. Vail?
Why he'll even furnish a weapon.
Let's just forget about it gentlemen.
Forget it nothing.
Fell may as well learn some of the facts of life
in the Arizona territory.
Exactly what I came to do Mr. Vail,
to learn them and record them for posterity.
All right I doubt you'll ever record this incident
but you can start by trying to out draw me.
With Mr. Fell's weapon?
Yep.
Hold on why spill blood over a silly bar room challenge?
Now you've been implying that I shouldn't mix in your business Lorder.
Well this is mine.
Well correct.
Now Mr. Vail thinks he cannot draw Mr. Fell.
I and Mr. Fell don't think he can.
And the loser buys a round for the house.
Splendid.
I don't indulge but I shall be delighted to stand treat if I lose.
You ridiculous little dude.
All right let's see the guns.
I'm unwrapping the weapons.
Nobody mentioned guns.
You draw with ease Vail.
And here's yours Fell.
Paper and a piece of charcoal.
What is this?
Why a out draw match.
One, two, three, draw.
Something you didn't know.
We should have both been wise to Wichita Vail.
He's got a sense of humor like a cowbuffalo.
Watch Mr. Fell Luke.
Ain't he the cleverest?
Nose flaring, lips tight, chin raggy, power.
Hey wait a minute is that supposed to be?
Well hurry up and draw something Vail.
He's almost done.
I'll be doggone Vail.
It's a spitting image of you.
There we are.
Looks like you'll stock for the drinks Mr. Vail.
Well now look here when a man challenges me.
If anybody thinks this is a laughing matter.
Oh now there is no offense attended sir.
You are more than welcome to the little sketch.
And I shall be delighted to purchase the libations.
I don't welsh my best.
Frank set them up for the house.
You're a good sport Vail.
And it's mighty good likeness too.
Well I guess I will take the picture home with me fell.
Mrs. Vail is well women sometimes enjoy a doodad like this.
Luke you know what Mr. Fell is doing here in Tombstone?
Well keeping you in free drinks.
No sir he's well that too.
But he come west to paint engines.
Well the engines do their own painting with war paint.
Slaughter and I were just talking about that.
We weren't getting anywhere either.
War paint?
I understood that the treaties with the Apaches were working out nicely.
They are when the white men live up to them.
Well that is practically treason against your own race slaughter.
If it's treason to compare some members of my own race with Indians like
Cochise and Margano.
Well I'm guilty.
Tell us a little more about what you plan to do Mr. Fell.
Well I want to paint the strong Indian faces.
Their customs the way they live.
The people back east have some amazing misconceptions about them.
So has Slaughter. He trusts them.
I'm trying to understand them.
Anyway Mr. Fell there are some very interesting and colorful Apaches living on my spread.
You'll have models for all the painting you want to do.
And the Apaches will have a brand new candidate for buzzard bait.
This here is powerful hard work Luke.
I know you don't feel right out of a saddle Wichita.
But we're going to need this corral.
Oh.
Oh there Red.
Ah good morning Vail.
Morning Slaughter.
Wichita.
Howdy.
How'd the missus like your picture.
Well she wants your friend Fell to paint one of her.
You know where I can find him.
I'm afraid he isn't available today.
I took him out to the Apache camp at sunrise loaded with paints and brushes and canvas.
He was happy as a chipmunk in opinion for us.
Slaughter a tender foot like Fell could be just the fuse to set your Apaches off.
Suppose he tries to paint one of their women.
Chief Margano explained about that to him.
He said a woman who gazes too long at a reflection in a clear stream forgets her life's purpose.
Them Apaches got the right idea about their women folk.
I ought to marry one and make her hammer this corral together.
What are you building the corral for Slaughter?
So Margano won't steal your Mustangs?
Well for once you came sort of close to trapping me.
I'm going to try to improve the range Mustangs with some Morgan breeding stock.
I figure there's no use tempting Lasha and his young buck friends way beyond their conception of our property laws.
You and your fancy talk about your Apache friends.
You don't trust them any more than I do.
Sure I do.
I just don't expect them to understand a whole new code of ethics overnight.
Hey somebody sure pounding a lot of leather.
Yeah it sounds...
Look Wichita it's Fell on that little road we left out there for him.
I never thought a dude like him could ride.
Slaughter he's in trouble.
I got it. Steady.
Oh steady.
Wichita help him off.
Sure sure.
Mr. Fell what happened?
Your clothes is ripped.
That mare's lathered up like you was going to shave her.
That's all right I guess.
I saved most of my paints from this canvas.
Mr. Slaughter those Indians are far from friendly.
What?
They set upon me.
The one you called Lasha and another red skinned blackguard.
I told you they'd do it Slaughter.
They'll be coming after us if we don't go after them first.
Hold it Vail. Let's find out what started the trouble.
Nothing I did assure you.
I was painting a portrait of the old chief with his permission.
Lasha and this other young buck came up when he took one look and knocked me to the ground.
Well how'd you get away?
Well for the moment the old man seemed as surprised as I was.
This Lasha rushed to him started a jabber and what I assumed was a patchy.
And I wrenched loose grabbed what I could and somehow mounted this horse.
Fortunately the Indians horses were still hobbled.
The miserable sneaking cowards tried to murder you in cold blood.
Don't be too sure. Maybe this was Lasha's idea of a prank.
Oh I doubt that.
Lasha's friend who I eluded with the aid of an elbow to his Adam's apple
was holding a knife to my throat at the same time.
Hey that is a nasty cut on your arm.
Well that was a nasty knife.
You'll have to take care of that wound right away.
Is this the picture you were painting?
Yes it's a bit the worse for wear but I can repaint the smears.
Well that's Margano's profile all right.
Except you made him look almost decent.
All right Slaughter I'll head for Tombstone and get the men together.
What for?
To drive those Apaches back to the Cherokawas.
Is there any left when we finish with them?
This happened on my property.
As soon as I get fell fixed up I'll ride out and get the whole story.
A white man has been attacked.
It doesn't matter whose property it happened on.
It's a matter of defending the community now.
Listen to me Vail you fire a shot or even go near Margano.
Dig sand men it's an engineer.
Get that stack of rails. Crawl for it.
Up there on the rise a mounted Apache.
Vail don't fire.
Try and stop me.
Keep his gun for him Wichita.
Lasha.
Hustein Slaughter.
Have you gone loco?
I've come from White Eyes Picture Maker.
I will not harm you.
Are you alone?
I'm alone.
Then drop that bow and ride to me.
Send White Eyes spell to me. He is our enemy.
Enemy?
Lasha either parley like a man or singe your father.
I warn you Hustein Slaughter.
Turn flat loose or I will come back with my braves and take him.
I wouldn't try that.
I give you until the sun is at its highest.
Then we'll come back for the White Eyes.
We only got till noon Luke.
There's twenty braves in the camp and plenty of them got rifles.
Vail could round up more men than that.
I'm not going to let this turn into war.
Luke did you ever stop to think that maybe you could be wrong about engines?
In a moment Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns.
This is Bud Sewell with official results on the automobile competition the whole industry watches every year.
The famous mobile gas economy run.
This year's run 1883 miles from Los Angeles to Texas ranging from sea level through mountain passes.
And once again Chrysler Corporation cars took the lion's share of firsts.
Plymouth, Chrysler and Imperial again this year for the second straight year.
Winning first place over all other cars in their class in the famous economy run.
Imperial by the way was sweepstakes winner too.
Getting 62.7188 ton miles per gallon.
The forward look is a lot more than look.
You get a better engine, brawnier brakes, torsion air ride at no extra cost.
And winning performance and economy in cars of the forward look from Chrysler Corporation.
Take a drive this week in a car of the forward look.
Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler or the triumphant Imperial.
Drive one of America's performance winners from Chrysler Corporation.
And now Act Two of William N. Robson's production of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone.
Carter Vale came too in a fury.
He swore to drive the Apaches back to the mountains.
He swore he'd settle with me after he'd done it.
Then he mounted his big stallion and spurred back toward Tombstone to recruit men and guns.
Luke, he's mad enough to eat the devil with his horns on.
And I ain't so sure he ain't got a case.
He will have if Lassher brings his braves back to take Fell.
If I had incited those Indians I'd tell you Mr. Slaughter, but I assure you I was attacked without provocation.
Let me see your painting of Chief Margano again Fell.
Whatever you're gonna do Luke, do it pronto.
This is good. You've captured the strength of his profile and courage in his eye.
This ain't no time to act like one of them art critic dudes.
We're two hours away from being caught in a war.
I once saw the funeral rite for an old chief of the Chitimacha tribe in the Louisiana territory.
His son was very much concerned about the way the body was laid out on the funeral pyre.
So that when the dead warrior met the great spirit, he...
Well, could you make another portrait of Margano from memory posed as I tell you?
Certainly, I have his features fixed in my mind. I wouldn't need a model.
Let's go up to the house then. You've got a picture to paint.
Fell painted a new picture of Margano.
We rode to the Apache camp a little before noon.
The picture was a gamble, but I had to force a parley or deal with a possible massacre.
What if they ambush us?
They won't, but you can bet that the Apache scouts are escorting us in.
I certainly don't see them.
An Apache could hide behind one of your paintbrushes.
I wish you'd explain this picture, Fowler, out of me.
We will, if it turns out I'm right.
And if you ain't?
We're all in a game of showdown for mighty big stakes.
Pull down to a walk now.
The camp's just the other side of this wash.
Easy now, bother me.
Don't let the welcoming committee scare you into a false move.
What welcoming committee? I don't see no... Uh-oh.
Right out of the mesquite.
Oh, oh, oh, boy.
Margano and Lasher, wait.
Wide eyes, come with me.
We're all coming.
That's the buck who slashed me, Mr. Slaughter.
Don't worry. He's acting under Margano's orders now.
It appears like we beat Vale here anyhow.
Not by much. See that Indian riding up to the edge of the mesa?
Yeah, yeah. He's telling Lasher and old Margano something in sign language.
White riders coming.
Bound to be Vale and the men.
Did anyone ever surprise an Apache?
Never twice.
Plenty far enough.
Whoa, boy there. Whoa.
Dismount, men.
Wichita, unbuckle your belt and let your guns drop, like I'm doing.
Bunch of... Do it.
Margano, we come in peace.
What of the others who ride toward us?
I want this young brave and Wichita to ride out and meet them with a white flag.
I'll use your shirt for that, fella.
I gotta surrender without even my gun?
My chief.
Get started, Wichita.
And make sure that Vale's men walk their horses into this camp.
Sure, all right, Luke.
Now, Margano, Lasher, suppose you meet us halfway.
We want no parley. Give us white eyes without a shirt.
Lasher, you insult me when you insult my friend.
Now walk towards us, both of you.
Lasher will avenge his father.
Avenge him for what?
Your father is just as I saw him this morning.
My son says, little man who draws with colored stick,
tell lies to great spirit about Margano.
Your son is wrong.
I do not tell lies.
You speak with a tongue that has no wisdom.
You strike out like a child who can't reason.
I'm a man. I've killed Zuni warriors and Yaki warriors.
I have told my son that killing can no longer be the way of the Apache.
He replies that even white men kill to avenge a wrong.
The wise white man and the wise red man
make sure a wrong has been done before they kill.
Nothing should be decided in the heat of anger.
We're parley too long.
White picture maker tell lies to great spirit.
All right.
Order!
You're handling this like a...
Hold it right there, Vale.
Where are the rest of your men?
Where they can cover this place with their guns
if you've crawled your way into a trap.
I explained that you sent out the white flag, Luke.
And don't ask me to drop my guns.
I don't aim to die before I pump some lead myself.
We've been having a little talk about hotheads.
And now that the place is crawling with them,
Mr. Fell and I'll show you how wrong you all are.
Margano.
Where?
Hustine Fell has a gift for you.
I am not softened by a gift from one who lies.
Fell does not lie.
His gift is the rolled white cloth he carries.
Give it to your Apache friend, Mr. Fell.
Do not touch it, my father.
Take it, Margano.
It's your likeness.
The likeness Hustine Fell had not yet finished
when your son so stupidly attacked him.
No.
No, do not look upon it.
All right, I'll make you look at it.
Oh, my own son has told.
Lasha, behold.
What?
But this morning the picture had but one eye,
but one ear, but half of a mouth.
I told you, Lasha.
Hustine Fell had not finished.
Do you think that a friend I brought to you
would insult your great spirit and your father
by drawing him with half a face
when he has two eyes as piercing as the eagle's?
My people shall remember their chief
as they see him here,
as Hustine Fell has painted him.
Lasha was a fool.
I will go from my people and never return.
No, Lasha.
Your father and your people need you.
Today you've become wiser.
The best thing now is to, well,
just forget this foolish trouble.
Now what are you doing?
Hustine Fell has no shirt.
He will do Lasha an honor
if he will accept Lasha's shirt of dough skin.
Why, I shall be very pleased.
And you will make a picture of Lasha
when there's no pain in your arm?
Oh, my arm feels fine, Lasha.
I'd like to paint you, and I can assure Mr. Slaughter
that I will not attempt another profile.
Profile? I do not understand.
It's nothing, Lasha.
Just a word painters use.
Now, Vale, suppose you let your army know the war is over.
As I turned toward Vale,
Honton, the other young Apache, was drawing his knife.
I leaped for him, but Vale was off his horse
in the same instant and hurling himself at me.
Slaughter you fool!
Mr. Vale, what did you punch him for?
You think I want him to start a war?
Might help him up, Wichita.
Honton, you go ahead and throw your knife.
What?
Honton, well...
It is an evil knife.
Evil spirits bewitched it.
It harmed a friend.
Honton hurls it from him.
You see, Luke, he wasn't aiming to harm nobody.
You claim to be such an expert on Apache custom slaughter
and an expert on hotheads.
And now we're square for the punch you landed on me this morning.
Right?
Right, Vale.
I've been spouting about how tolerance and understanding
are pretty much the same thing.
I guess we both understand a little more about our neighbors.
If your jaw feels like mine,
I guess from now on we're going to be a lot more tolerant of each other.
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone starring Sam Buffington
was written by Fran Van Harte Sveldt
with editorial supervision by Tom Hanley
and directed by William N. Robeson.
Supporting Mr. Buffington were Junius Matthews,
Carl Swenson, Ben Wright, Don Diamond, and Jack Crouchon.
Music was composed and conducted by Amerigo Marino.
I couldn't sleep that night in Loughton.
My mother said, What was the matter with you?
You looked like something wrong. I said nothing.
Nothing, he said.
But there was something wrong.
That night in the park, this boy and his juvenile gang
had stabbed and beaten another teenager to death,
the victim, Michael Farmer, son of a fireman.
He was a very courageous, spirited boy.
He was athletic, he was an excellent student,
and we had great plans for his future.
It's a hard thing to realize that there is no future any longer.
For Michael Farmer's father, the future is blank.
But for the rest of us, what implications does this crime hold?
Tomorrow night on most of these stations,
CBS Radio's Unit 1 probes the causes and effects
of the brutal New York gang murder
for which four teenagers have just been tried and convicted.
You'll hear gang members, police, parents,
all probing for an understanding of the tragedy,
as Edward R. Murrow narrates Unit 1's penetrating study,
Who Killed Michael Farmer?
Tomorrow night.
Next week at this time, we return with...
Slaughter's the name. Luke Slaughter.
When we meet up again, you can call me that.
Luke Slaughter.
This is the CBS Radio Network.