In this cunning and character-rich episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon investigates a seemingly simple case of mistaken identity that unravels into a far-reaching horse theft scheme. When rancher Emmett Bowers is accused of stealing a horse, tempers flare in Dodge City. The accuser, Charlie Disher, claims the horse is one of 17 stolen from his ranch on the Canadian River—and he’s got the brand registration to prove it.

The investigation reveals that Bowers unknowingly purchased several of Disher’s horses from a drifter named Vic Lowry, who has vanished without a trace. As more townspeople realize they’ve been swindled, a posse threatens to take justice into their own hands. But Matt, determined to avoid a lynching, asks for one week to resolve the case his own way.

With Chester keeping Disher distracted and Matt patiently waiting for the final horses to surface, a trap is laid. When a new buyer brings the last two stolen horses into Dodge, Matt sets a clever ruse in motion—leading him and Chester to a remote cabin, where the truth behind the horse theft is revealed in a violent and tragic confrontation.

Horse Deal is a tale of deception, patience, and poetic justice on the frontier, showcasing Matt Dillon’s moral authority and strategic thinking in the face of rising mob justice.

Keywords: "Gunsmoke Horse Deal episode," "March 1955 Gunsmoke radio," "Matt Dillon horse theft investigation," "Vic Lowry scam story," "Charlie Disher ranch horses," "Western mob justice conflict," "John Meston Gunsmoke scripts," "classic Dodge City radio drama."

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, James Nusser, Vic Perrin, Sam Edwards, Joe Cranston.