Original subtitles

♪

[ laughing ]

On the house, Lloyd.

Don't get the chance very often, you know?

Well, thanks Hill.

So you're heading up into the Bitterroot

in the morning, eh?

Yep.

Make the trip twice a year, you know?

Trade with the minors at Grasshopper Creek.

Taking much merchandise this time?

You know, I got things that'll knock their eyes out.

Yes, sir.

When I get back here three days from now,

this old saddlebag will be bulging at the seams.

$8,000, $9,000 worth of golden dust.

[ muttering in background ]

You picked a bad place to say how rich you're gonna be.

Those roughnecks are two of the toughest customers

in the territory.

Look like just a couple of down-at-the-heel drifters to me.

And they'd soon kill ya to say hello.

There's a lot of hoodlums just like 'em

operating up in the Bitterroot

where you're going,Lloyd.

[ laughs ]

Don't you worry about me, my friend.

I'll be back here Friday night.

All in one piece.

I hope so.

And I'll feel better when I see you.

♪

♪

Howdy, folks, I'm the Old Ranger.

This is the Luna House & Bar in Lewis, in Idaho.

It's October 14, 1863.

A date that will long remembered by Hill Beachy,

the hotel owner and proprietor.

Because on this morning is about to begin

one of the weirdest, most tragic series of events

in the history of the West.

Events that will lead to a...

OLD RANGER: To Lloyd Magruder,

a prosperous merchant from nearby Elk City,

there is no hint of impending danger

as he sets off on a routine trading trip

up the Nez Perce Trail.

But in the mind of the hotel man,

put it down to premonition or what you will,

there is deep concern.

Only two mules, Lloyd?

I thought you were carrying a lot of goods.

Oh, I sent most of it ahead last week.

This is just the valuable stuff.

That Indian boy get a move on him.

What's the holdup?

Oh, this morning he found a weak place in my saddle cinch,

insisted on mendin' it.

I wanted to get started before now.

Here he comes.

Oh good.

[ horse neighs ]

Well, it's about time, Jack, what took you so long?

Oh, the cinch almost broke through, but I fixed it.

Good as new now.

Oh, that's fine.

Here you are, boy.

Oh, too much.

Thank you, Mr. Magruder.

Thank you!

[ laughs ]

Well, see you Friday,Hill.

We'll have a drink to celebrate.

Don't take any chances.

Now see here, boys,

I can't let you take a couple of my horses

and ride off two, three days

without you puttin' a deposit down in advance.

I tell 'em that Mr. Page.

Now look, Page, like he said, we ain't got--

[ shushes ]

We ain't got the money right now.

But when we come back, we'll have plenty.

We'll even buy your old nags off you if you want.

Nope.

Say, where you gonna get all that money?

We got a big deal on the fire,

make us a pile,

but we gotta be there to collect.

Talk's cheap, nothin' doin'.

Hey, wait a minute, I got an idea.

Maybe we can cut pop in.

Go out and bring in the rest of that feed, boy.

Yes, sir.

You like to pick up $1,000, pop?

$1,000?

Yeah, sure.

And maybe, we could take you with us.

That way you wouldn't have to worry

about your horses and make a nice haul for yourself.

How about it?

Good.

It's good with me.

Got a strong stomach, pop?

We just might run into a little tough stuff.

Now hold on, boys,

if there's gonna be any shootin'--

Now, don't worry, Page, you're no gonna get hurt.

You're not gonna have to get mixed up in any dirty work.

I don't know, I don't like violence.

But you do like $1,000, don't you?

[ laughs ]

ROUGHNECK 2: Of course you do.

Now come on, let's get those horses saddled up.

Kinda quite this mornin', ain't it Mr. Beachy?

[ muttering in distance ]

Look!

♪

It's those roughnecks, Lowery and Romaine.

They got a hold of some horses somewhere.

Hey, and there's old Will Page right behind 'em.

[ horse galloping ]

Now what's he doin' with the likes of them?

I was afraid of that.

What do you mean?

Those men are out for no good, Luke.

I know it.

When they have old Will Page along?

Oh boss, you're imaginin' things.

You better have a drink.

♪

Still haven't seen anything of Mr. Magruder?

Please, Mr. Beachy, stop worrying about him.

He's only a day overdue.

Something's happened to him, I feel it in my bones.

Oh, now Mr. Beachy, you'd forget it.

I can't!

I've nothing else on my mind since he left.

I even had a dream last night, clear as if I'd been there.

I saw Lloyd coming down that trail,

I saw him ambushed by those hoodlums,

they killed him and took his gold.

Oh, now I've had dreams come true, sure.

Why they say sometimes you even dream things

before they happen.

Oh, but I don't know about that.

[ laughter ]

Strike it rich, Will?

Where'd you get all that money?

[ muttering in background ]

You don't have to tell him your business, pop, you hear?

You see, I staked the boys the horses,

so they could go up and sell a claim they had and they,

and they split with me.

Where'd you really get the money?

It's just like I told ya.

Ask him!

I'll be back in a few minutes.

[ laughing ]

Hold your horses, Hill!

You're asking me to arrest three men,

because you think they've killed somebody?

I don't think, I know.

Sure, sure, you've had a dream.

But that still doesn't prove anybody's been murdered.

Those roughnecks knew about Lloyd,

they followed him on the trail,

they came back with his gold.

And he didn't come back.

Isn't that enough?

I've always had a lot of respect for you, Hill.

But I think you're gettin' soft in the head.

So you won't lock 'em up?

If you can prove there's been a murder

and they did it, sure.

♪

[ door closes ]

Oh, sorry, Mr. Beachy.

Oh you're in a might big hurry, going to a fire?

No, headin' to your place to get a drink.

Just brought a wagon train down to Nez Perce Trail

and I'm dry.

Wait a minute,

did you come through Grasshopper Creek?

Yeah.

See anything of Lloyd Magruder?

Sure, he was doin' a land-office business

with the miners,

makin' money hand over fist.

Was he there when you left?

No, he struck out.

See um, on Friday mornin'.

Why, ain't he home?

No, and he won't be, now I know.

If the sheriff won't do anything about this,

Judge Berry will.

♪

Judge!

Judge Berry!

I've been lookin' for you, judge.

I want you to do somethingfor me.

If it has to do this,

you gettin' an arrest warrant, Beachy, the answer is no.

Now wait a minute, judge, when you know the whole story.

I do know the whole story, it's all over town

including the details of that ridiculous dream you had.

But there's more than a dream.

There would have to be, I assure you.

Now when you have definite proof that someone has been murdered

and sufficient evidence as to who committed

this foul crime,

then I shall be happy to take action.

Until that time, good day, sir.

[ laughter ]

[ roughnecks laughing ]

Alright, Page, let's have the truth.

What have you done with Magruder?

I'm gettin' sick of this.

Now look, we heard the story you've been spreadin'

all over town.

It's true!

Look, we don't know nothin' about Magruder

and we care less.

Now you stop this crazy talkof yours

or we're gonna have to stop it for you.

Permanent!

[ laughter ]

I wanna talk to you, Hill.

Listen to me, Beachy, those men are hoodlums,

we all know that.

They've got a lot of people on their side.

Now if you don't stop accusin' 'em,

there's just liable to be a murder in this town.

Yours.

So I gotta prove what I say, huh?

Alright, tomorrow mornin'

I'm headin' up that trail myself,

I'll find your proof.

And when I get back, there's gonna be

a lotta red faces around here.

♪

[ horse neighs ]

Kinda like lookin' for a needle in a haystack.

I suppose it is, Tom.

Now if those fellas did kill Mr. Magruder

like you think,

they'd probably cover it up pretty good by now.

What do you expect to find anyway?

I don't know exactly.

Lloyds animals for one thing, they wouldn't kill them.

There's a little ranch up yonder.

We'll head up there

and see if they can tell us anything.

[ birds chirping ]

♪

Don't seem to be anybody here, Mr. Beachy.

Anybody home?

Gone to town maybe.

Tom, look!

TOM: What do you see, Mr. Beachy?

HAIL: Those mules.

Those are Magruder's animals.

Well, I don't know, Mr. Beachy,

one mule looks like anotherto me.

They gotta be.

MAN 1: Somethin' I can do for you?

Howdy.

These mules, where'd you get 'em?

You wanna buy 'em?

I just wanna know where you got 'em.

Well, I'll tell ya,

three fellas come by a couple of days ago

with a horse and these jacks.

I bought the horse off of them, didn't want the mules,

but they threw 'em in.

These men, what'd they look like?

Like cutthroats, I'd say.

One of 'em was short and stocky

and the other was about the same height

but slimmer, reddish hair.

There was an older man with 'em.

Lowery, Romaine, and Page.

It sounds kinda like 'em.

Where's the horse they sold you?

An Appalucy, good horse.

I resold him yesterday to another fella

passin' through.

That's Magruder's horse, I know it is.

I gotta find it.

MAN 1: Fella didn't buy the saddle off of me,

maybe you could use it.

Where is it?

In the barn, I'll show ya.

[ door creaks ]

This is Magruder's saddle, I know it is.

Sell it to ya cheap, $10 maybe.

Mr. Beachy, I don't mean to spoil nothin' for ya,

but I've seen 100 saddles around these parts

look just like this one.

Now how can you be sure it's Mr. Magruder's?

I think I got a way to find out.

Come on, we're goin' back to town.

♪

Jack!

Oh Jack!

Mr. Beachy, you back, huh?

Not for long.

I need another horse for a friend of mine.

You got one?

Oh sure, I'll give you Jenny.

Good.

We'll use this saddle.

[ horse neighs ]

♪

Mr. Beachy.

What is it, Jack?

This, Mr. Magruder's saddle, he took it with him

when he went to Grasshopper Creek.

How come it's here?

How do you know it's his, Jack?

This cinch, I mended it myself before he left

with this piece of buckskin, see?

Thanks, Jack, that's all I need to know.

Now come on, you and I are goin' over

to see the sheriff.

And you'll swear this is Magruder's saddle?

You're positive?

Sure, I know.

Of course, he knows.

Certainly, now you've got enough

on those three to arrest them.

Yeah, you've still got no real proof

that Magruder was murdered.

No proof at all.

But look at the evidence, man.

Those mules, the descriptions of the men,

this saddle.

Well, this is pretty incriminating, Beachy

and you're right.

But we need more.

Now if could just find the body.

Hey, you better get outta here quick

or it's gonna be too late.

What do you mean, Tom? What's happened?

Lowery, Romaine, and Page, they're waitin'

in front of the depot for the stage.

They just bought tickets for Walla Walla.

That stage is due here any minute now.

You're not gonna let 'em slip through your fingers,

are ya?

Alright, I'll do it.

I just hope you're right.

♪

[ both laugh ]

[ dog barking in distance ]

Afraid you boys aren't going anywhere,

you're coming with me.

Yeah, why?

You're all under arrest.

Arrest, for what?

Suspicion of murder.

Oh, I wouldn't try that, Lowery.

Get their guns, Beachy.

You're makin' a big mistake, sheriff.

We ain't murdered nobody

and nobody is gonna prove we did.

Oh, you'll have a chance to clear yourselves

if you're innocent.

Now get moving.

Come on!

You too, Page!

It's all your doing, you meddlin' old fool,

all that wild talk you've been puttin' out.

Well, I know my rights.

We're gonna be out of that jail in 24 hours.

And when we are the first one we're coming for is you.

[ pulls trigger ]

Shut up and get moving.

♪

But judge--

I'm sorry, but those ruffians are smarter

than I gave 'em credit for.

They already filed a writ of habeas corpus.

You mean we can't hold 'em?

On suspicion, 24 hours only.

That's the law.

Unless they are bound over for trial.

Well, you can do that, can't you?

On the basis of the flimsy evidence

you dug up.

Oh Beachy, I believe they're guilty just like you.

But having evidence, real evidence is another matter.

I'm afraid our hands are tied.

When do you have to turn 'em loose?

By midnight.

That's the 24 hours.

And when they're free, I suggest you watch out.

I'm not worried for myself,

I just wanna see those men hang.

Most-- everybody does.

Oh, I know people laughed at you

when you first made those accusations.

But they're all with you now.

Sure, even the vigilantes are all steamed up.

Vigilantes.

Oh now, look here, Beachy, you of all people,

you wouldn't go along with mob rule.

Why, that's a horrible thing, innocent people get hurt.

We'll have no mob violence in Lewiston.

Sheriff, you seeto that.

[ people muttering ]

Sheriff, I wanna talk to ya privately.

If you've got any wild ideas about a lynching,

terrible things happen when the vigilantes take over.

Not if it's handles right.

You folks go along,

I wanna talk over something with the sheriff.

[ people muttering ]

♪

Oh cheer up, pop,

we're gonna be outta here in another hour.

Just so they don't start askin' a lotta questions again

like this mornin'.

Now look, Page, they ain't gonna prove nothin'.

But if you start shootin' your mouth off around here,

they will be a murder.

You know what I mean?

[ muttering in distance ]

TOM: Now look, Mr. Beachy, we're all with ya.

The whole town's with ya.

But are you sure this is the right way?

HILL: I'm sure.

We'll use that lamp, toss it up.

That's good.

Alright, bring up the horse.

[ people muttering ]

♪

Hey, sheriff!

[ muttering in distance ]

What's goin' on out there?

Now you boys, take it easy,

vigilantes are trying to take over,

but I'll see you're protected.

They can't do that, they can't hang innocent men.

[ people muttering ]

Hey, leave my rifle alone.

You better come in here, sheriff.

♪

Let's have the key to that cell.

♪

Now get over there and keep out of our way.

♪

Lowery, you're first.

You can't do this!

We got a right to a fair trial!

You'll get one right now.

♪

[ muttering in distance ]

They're gonna hang us.

I don't wanna die!

Shut up!

[ smack ]

[ Lowery screams ]

[ horse neighs ]

♪

You're next, Romaine.

Let me go, you've got innocent blood on your hands,

you rat!

[ muttering in distance ]

You got anything to tell me?

[ muttering in distance ]

[ screaming outside ]

I did all I could to save you from this, Will,

'cause I know you're not a killer

like those two.

But I can't do anymore.

[ sobbing ] I deserved it, I deserved it.

Didn't know what they were gonna do.

I was greedy.

They offered me a lotta money.

Magruder's dead, isn't he?

I didn't do it, you got to believe me!

They killed him.

I tried to stop 'em, but they wouldn't list--

Will you tell us the whole story, Page?

Will you swear to it?

I'll tell you.

I'll tell you.

[ sobbing ]

♪

He'll talk.

Bring him in.

You old fool, what you tell them?

I guess you'll not need this anymore, eh Mr. Peachy?

I'm sorry I had to put you through this Will.

It was the only way.

I'm not sorry, Mr. Peachy.

I'm glad it's over with.

I couldn't have livedwith it.

Hello Sherriff.

Want to write this down?

♪

Faced with William Page's signed account of the crime

Chris Laurie and Jim Romaine

confessed to the murder of Roy McGruder.

And on March 4th, 1864 they were put to death

by hanging.

Now the old man was exonerated of guilt.

But his reprieve was short-lived.

For soon afterwards he met death in a drunken brawl.

Hail Beachy's premonition had paid off in justice

and written at end to a black page

in the history of the West.

♪