Original subtitles

Man: YOU GET BEHIND HIM AND BLOCK THE DOOR.

THEN I PUT A BULLET BETWEEN HIS EYES.

Narrator: IN AN ERA

WHERE JUSTICE COMES FROM THE BARREL OF A GUN...

**

THERE WAS NO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ABILENE.

Narrator: ...ONE MAN, TOM SMITH,

SETS OUT TO TAME THE AMERICAN FRONTIER

USING NOTHING BUT HIS FISTS.

I WAS TOLD THERE'S BEEN A SHOOTING.

THERE'S ABOUT TO BE ONE.

Davis: HE WAS SO FAST...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...WITH HIS FIST...

**

...HE'D HAVE THEM ON THE GROUND

BEFORE THEY SAW THE PUNCH COMING.

**

THAT FELLA'S FISTS WERE STRONGER THAN A LEAD BULLET.

**

I'M GONNA RUN EVERY ONE OF THOSE COWARDS OUT OF TOWN...

**

...OR PUT THEM IN THE GRAVE!

Narrator: HE BECOMES ONE OF THE GREATEST LAWMEN

IN THE ANNALS OF THE OLD WEST.

THAT'S THE ATTITUDE THAT TOM SMITH HAD --

"I'M GONNA WIN, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL, OR WORSE."

**

Narrator: AS AMERICA RISES AS A NATION...

VIOLENCE REIGNS.

A FEW BRAVE SOULS FACE THE DANGER,

FIGHTING TO CREATE JUSTICE FROM CHAOS.

THESE ARE THE STORIES OF AMERICAN LAWMEN.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ HORSE WHINNIES ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

**

[ GUNSHOTS, HORSE NEIGHS ]

**

IN THE SUMMER OF 1870, ABILENE WAS A WICKED PLACE.

IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

**

[ GUNSHOT ]

Willis: THE SALOONS WERE OPEN ALL THE TIME,

THEY HAD BROTHELS IN TOWN, THE GAMBLING HOUSES.

**

MANY OF THESE YOUNG MEN WERE CIVIL WAR VETERANS,

AND ONCE THEY GOT LIQUOR IN THEM,

THERE WAS REALLY NO ONE WHO COULD CONTROL THEM.

IT WAS JUST REALLY NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

ABILENE WAS KNOWN FAR AND WIDE

AS THE LAWLESS TOWN OR HELL ON EARTH.

**

Davis: THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE IN ABILENE

THAT THERE WERE TO BE NO GUNS WORN IN THE CITY LIMITS.

THE COWBOYS, WHEN THEY CAME INTO TOWN,

THEY WERE REQUIRED TO CHECK THEIR GUNS IN IN THE SALOON.

**

THAT ORDINANCE WAS NOT BEING ENFORCED.

**

THERE WAS A GREAT APPETITE FOR TEXAS BEEF BACK EAST,

AND THEY NEEDED A WAY TO TRANSPORT THESE LONGHORNS

TO SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN KANSAS CITY.

TEXAS CATTLE GROWERS START BRINGING THEIR HERDS TO ABILENE,

AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED ABILENE TO GROW AND PROSPER.

Willis: QUICKLY WENT TO HAVING THOUSANDS OF COWBOYS

BRINGING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CATTLE

TO BE SHIPPED OFF TO THE NORTH AND EAST.

ABILENE BECAME WHAT I LIKE TO CALL A COWBOY RESORT --

A PLACE TO JUST LET HER FLY.

**

[ GUNSHOT ]

Davis: THESE COWBOYS WOULD BE ARMED,

AND THEY'D BE DRUNK...

[ GUNSHOT ]

...AND STARTED SHOOTING.

[ BABY CRYING ]

Willis: THE CITIZENS WERE EXTREMELY SCARED

OF THE AMOUNT OF GUNFIRE COMING FROM THESE COWBOYS.

THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN A COWBOY WAS SHOOTING OFF IN THE AIR...

[ BABY CRIES, WOMAN SCREAMS ]

...BULLET WENT THROUGH A BABY BUGGY.

[ BABY CRYING ]

DIDN'T DO ANY HARM, BUT SCARED EVERYONE SO BADLY

THAT THEY SAID, "WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING."

Hook: AND THE TOWN STOOD UP AND SAID,

"WE NEED TO HAVE SOME REAL LAW ENFORCEMENT."

**

TOM SMITH WAS BORN IN NEW YORK.

AND HIS PARENTS WERE IRISH IMMIGRANTS,

SO HE'S FIRST GENERATION IN AMERICA.

**

Davis: HE WAS A STRONG, PHYSICALLY FIT GUY.

**

HE HAD A REPUTATION IN NEW YORK AS A TOUGH MAN.

**

Hook: HE STARTED BOXING,

AND HE BECAME A PRETTY REPUTABLE MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXER.

**

SOLID, LIKE HE WAS CARVED FROM GRANITE.

**

AND HE WAS 5'11", 170 POUNDS.

**

WHAT MOST IRISHMEN WOULD DO AT THAT TIME IS,

IF THEY'RE TOUGH ENOUGH,

THEY'RE GONNA GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN NEW YORK.

TOM SMITH RECOGNIZED HE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

HE WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING HE COULD TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

**

[ WOMAN SCREAMING ]

STOP! HALT!

STOP HIM! THIEF!

**

HALT!

**

Willis: TOM SMITH WAS CHASING A ROBBERY SUSPECT,

CHASED HIM INTO AN ALLEY,

AND HAD WHAT WE TERM A NEGATIVE DISCHARGE,

WHERE HE SHOT THE SUSPECT.

[ BELL TOLLING ]

Hook: THIS WAS A CHILD, A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY.

THE CHILD IS DEAD, AND IT'S AT HIS HANDS.

**

Ernst: NO POLICEMAN WANTS TO KILL ANYBODY.

FROM A LOT OF POLICEMEN I'VE KNOWN THAT HAVE KILLED PEOPLE,

IT BOTHERS THEM.

A LOT OF THEM QUIT AFTER THAT AND FIND ANOTHER LINE OF WORK.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KILL A KID...

WHEN I WAS A COP,

THAT'S THE LAST THING YOU WANTED TO DO.

[ TOLLING CONTINUES ]

**

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

Davis: TOM SMITH TOOK A JOB WITH THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.

HE WAS LAYING RAILROAD TRACKS

THROUGHOUT THE PRAIRIES OF NEBRASKA.

BUT HE DIDN'T DO THAT FOR VERY LONG.

BEFORE THE END OF 1868, HE HAD GONE BACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE TOOK A JOB AS A MARSHAL IN BEAR RIVER CITY, WYOMING.

Willis: IT SEEMED LIKE WHEREVER HE WENT,

THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM ASKED HIM TO BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

BECAUSE OF HIS PERSONALITY.

**

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

VIGILANTES ARRESTED SOME MEN

WHO THEY THOUGHT HAD COMMITTED A MURDER.

AND THEY TOOK THEM OUT OF THE JAIL AND HUNG THEM,

AND THAT STARTED A RIOT.

BACK IN THE TENTS, ALL OF YOU!

OUT OF OUR WAY, SMITH.

YOU WANT AT THOSE MEN,

YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME FIRST!

ANY OF YOU WANT TO TRY ME, GO AHEAD.

LET FLY.

Willis: THE ACCIDENTAL KILLING OF THIS 14-YEAR-OLD BOY

WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT.

IT HAD TO AFFECT HIS WANTING TO NOT USE FIREARMS

AS HIS CAREER WENT ON.

HE WAS VERY WELL-KNOWN FOR NOT EVEN CARRYING A FIREARM.

Davis: WHEN IT CAME NECESSARY TO USE FORCE,

THE MARSHAL WOULD USE HIS FISTS.

ALL RIGHT, BOYS, DO WHAT HE SAYS.

Ernst: TOM SMITH QUIETED THE CROWD

AFTER A LOT OF SHOOTING AND A LOT OF KILLING.

AND AFTER THAT, HE WAS KNOWN AS BEAR RIVER SMITH.

**

SMITH WANTED TO RESTORE ORDER

IN A PLACE THAT THEY SAID THERE COULD BE NO ORDER.

**

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ HORSES NEIGH ]

**

HIS HEART, I THINK, WAS IN ABILENE.

HE ALWAYS WANTED TO GET THERE,

SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN HIS IDEAL SPOT HERE, FOR SURE.

**

Davis: MAYOR HENRY IN ABILENE

WAS LOOKING TO HIRE A CITY MARSHAL,

SO THOMAS SMITH WAS SUCCESSFUL

IN BEING ABLE TO GET AN INTERVIEW.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF, MR. SMITH.

WELL, IN AUGUST OF '68,

I WAS ELECTED CITY MARSHALL OF GREEN RIVER.

THAT OCTOBER, THE UNION PACIFIC MOVED WEST TO BEAR RIVER,

WHERE I SERVED AS MARSHALL DURING THE RIOTS.

THE MAYOR DIDN'T THINK THAT HE WAS UP TO THE JOB,

DESPITE HIS REPUTATION.

AFTER BEAR RIVER,

THERE WAS WASATCH, THEN KIT CARSON.

AFTER THE RAILROAD JOINED UP, I WAS IN HAYS CITY,

AND THEN BACK TO KIT CARSON.

HE LOOKED AT MARSHAL SMITH, WHO WAS 5'11", 170 POUNDS,

AND HE DIDN'T THINK THAT HE WOULD MEASURE UP

AGAINST THESE TOUGH COWBOYS THAT WOULD COME INTO ABILENE.

**

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, SMITH.

I'LL CONTACT YOU BY WIRE WHEN I'VE MADE MY DECISION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

HE DIDN'T OFFER A POSITION TO TOM SMITH

BUT TOLD HIM IF ANYTHING SHOULD CHANGE,

HE WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH HIM.

INSTEAD, MAYOR HENRY SELECTED TWO ST. LOUIS POLICE OFFICERS.

**

Hook: THESE GUYS HAD SEEN THE ROUGH STREETS OF ST. LOUIS,

SO THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD HANDLE THIS ABILENE

PRETTY EASILY.

**

Willis: THE COWBOYS HAD HEARD THEY WERE COMING

AND MADE A SPECIAL SHOW FOR THEM

TO LET THEM KNOW THEY WEREN'T WELCOME.

[ LAUGHING ]

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

THEY DIDN'T EVEN FINISH THEIR FIRST SHIFT.

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

THEY SAID, "THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING UP AGAINST THIS."

TWO GUYS -- NO WAY.

SO THEY GOT AHOLD OF MAYOR HENRY AND THEY QUIT ON DAY ONE,

GOT BACK ON THE TRAIN, AND WENT BACK TO ST. LOUIS.

**

Hook: T.C. HENRY WAS DEFINITELY IN A DESPERATE SITUATION THERE.

THE MAYOR CANNOT RESTORE ORDER

BECAUSE HE CAN'T FIND ANYBODY TO DO IT.

THEN HE REMEMBERS TOM SMITH.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A LOOK AROUND TEXAS STREET FIRST?

YOU MIGHT NOT WANT THE JOB.

I LOOKED AROUND WHEN I RODE IN.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK?

**

I THINK THAT PISTOLS AND WHISKEY DON'T MIX.

WHISKEY ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE,

SO IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE THE GUNS.

THE COWBOYS OUTNUMBER YOU A THOUSAND TO ONE.

AND HOW DO YOU INTEND ON TAKING THEIR GUNS AWAY?

ONE AT A TIME, I IMAGINE.

HENRY WAS APPREHENSIVE.

YOU KNOW, A GUY THAT'S NOT CARRYING GUNS --

"THIS GUY MUST BE CRAZY. I'M SENDING HIM TO HIS DEATH."

YOU THINK YOU RUN THIS TOWN, DO YOU?

**

YOU AIN'T TAKING MY GUN, MARSHAL.

**

HE'S CONFRONTED BY THE BIGGEST BOISTEROUS COWBOY,

KNOWN AS BIG HANK,

WHO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT NOBODY'S GONNA TAKE HIS GUN AWAY

AND HE'S GONNA RUN ANYBODY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT OF TOWN.

**

YOU THINK YOU RUN THIS TOWN, DO YOU?

I'M MERELY EMPLOYED AS MARSHAL.

**

MY ONLY JOB IS TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE?

SEE THAT IT'S OBEYED.

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK FOR YOUR GUN.

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

YOU AIN'T TAKING MY GUN, MARSHAL.

YOUR GUN -- NOW.

HANK NEVER THOUGHT THIS GUY WOULD STAND UP TO HIM.

Ernst: TAKES A PRETTY BRAVE MAN TO WALK UP TO A GUY WITH A GUN

AND CALMLY TELL HIM, "TURN THE GUN OVER TO ME."

**

[ CHUCKLES ]

I DON'T THINK YOU SEE THAT VERY OFTEN TODAY.

YOU DIDN'T SEE IT VERY OFTEN BACK IN THE 1800s

WITH OTHER LAWMEN.

**

MARSHAL TOM SMITH WAS SO FAST WITH HIS FISTS,

HE PROBABLY HAD HANK ON THE GROUND

BEFORE HE SAW THAT PUNCH COMING.

AS A PROFESSIONAL BOXER, SPEED IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

BIG HANK FELT THAT HIS PISTOLS WERE HIS BEST FRIENDS.

**

SUDDENLY, THEIR FRIEND DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD FOR THEM.

A FELLA'S FISTS WERE STRONGER THAN A LEAD BULLET.

DUST YOURSELF OFF AND THEN LEAVE TOWN!

AND DON'T COME BACK.

MARSHAL SMITH DEMONSTRATED THAT HE COULD NOT BE INTIMIDATED,

THAT HE WAS GONNA ENFORCE THE LAW,

AND HE WOULD GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH ANYONE.

**

SO, WE'RE HEADING INTO TOWN TOMORROW, BOSS?

YEAH, WE'LL FINISH TOMORROW.

YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ]

HEY!

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?

THAT DAMN MARSHAL!

STRUCK ME COLD LIKE A COWARD!

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SHOOT HIM?

ON ACCOUNT HE TOOK MY GUN.

**

NO, THE HELL WITH YOU AND THE HELL WITH ABILENE!

GOOD RIDDANCE!

**

IT WERE ME, I WOULD'VE KILLED THAT MARSHAL.

SOMEHOW, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD'VE MADE OUT ANY BETTER.

THE HELL YOU SAYING TO ME?

I'M GONNA MAKE YOU A BET.

NOT ONLY IS THAT MARSHAL NOT GONNA TAKE MY GUN,

I'M GONNA SHOOT THAT SUMBITCH MYSELF.

SIT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS GONNA MAKE SURE THAT TOM SMITH GOT THE MESSAGE.

SMITH! [ HORSE NEIGHS ]

SMITH!

Hook: WYOMING FRANK MUST HAVE BEEN

THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST GUY OF THEM ALL.

WHERE YOU AT, BOY?!

COME OUT HERE AND DIE LIKE A MAN!

SMITH!

GET OUT HERE! COME ON!

Ernst: HE WENT FROM SALOON TO SALOON TO SALOON

AND BRAGGING IN EVERY ONE OF THEM,

"I'M GONNA KILL YOUR MARSHAL. I'M GONNA KILL YOUR MARSHAL."

SHOULD'VE SEEN HANK'S FACE

AFTER THE MARSHAL GOT THROUGH WITH HIM.

Frank: PAY UP.

THAT MARSHAL WOULD RATHER LEAVE TOWN THAN FACE THE MUSIC.

TAKE A SEAT.

**

NEXT BOTTLE'S ON ME.

WYOMING FRANK WAS TELLING PEOPLE THAT HE WAS SCARED --

"HE LEFT TOWN ALREADY BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS COMING."

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

SMITH WAS PRETTY SMART.

HE ACTUALLY HAD FRANK KIND OF SITTING THERE,

WAITING FOR HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

**

WHAT'S FRANK GONNA DO BUT START DRINKING?

AND THE DRUNKER THEY GET, THE WORSE YOU ARE WITH YOUR GUN.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ HORSE WHINNIES ]

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

HEY, FRANK.

I AIN'T PAYING YOU A RED CENT.

THE HELL YOU AIN'T!

WHAT KIND OF MAN DON'T PAY HIS DEBTS?

MARSHAL'S STILL HERE.

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

YOU GOT SOME KIND OF DEATH WISH, MARSHAL?

THERE'S A FIREARMS BAN IN EFFECT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SURRENDER YOUR REVOLVER.

**

HOW 'BOUT WE WALK 10 PACES AND DRAW?

I DON'T CARE MUCH FOR GUNS.

SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA STAND THERE

WHILE I PUT ONE BETWEEN YOUR EYES?

LET'S FIND OUT.

Willis: IN MODERN LAW ENFORCEMENT,

WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING

TO KEEP OUR DISTANCE AWAY FROM POTENTIAL SUSPECTS.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT TOM SMITH --

HE WOULD GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL,

BECAUSE IF THEY WENT FOR A WEAPON,

THE FIRST THING HE WANTED TO DO WAS PHYSICALLY CONTROL THEM.

YOU WANT MY GUN?

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM ME.

Ernst: YOU CANNOT SHOW FEAR.

EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT BE ONLY 5'11"

AND THIS GUY MIGHT BE 6'6",

YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW HIM THAT "I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU.

YOU'RE GONNA GO DOWN."

[ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

YOU AIN'T NOTHING BUT A COWARD WITH A BADGE.

YOU'RE A CHICKEN.

YOU'RE A YANKEE-LOVIN', BOG-TROTTIN' HARPY!

THAT'S THE ATTITUDE THAT TOM SMITH HAD, AND HE PULLED IT OFF.

I TOLD YOU TO SURRENDER YOUR GUN.

**

DON'T TAKE ONE MORE STEP.

BY WALKING RIGHT UP INTO THEIR FACE, HE INTIMIDATED THEM.

HE KNEW THAT HE COULD KNOCK SOMEBODY OUT,

AND THAT, I THINK, IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE TO HIM.

DON'T YOU TAKE ONE MORE STEP.

TOLD YOU... SURRENDER YOUR GUN.

**

WHEN HE WAKES UP, YOU TELL HIM

HE HAS 24 HOURS TO LEAVE TOWN.

**

Willis: THIS WAS WITNESSED BY MANY OF THESE OTHER COWBOYS,

SO HE QUICKLY GAINED A REPUTATION FOR HIMSELF.

Ernst: ONCE YOU DO THAT TO A COUPLE TOUGHS,

THE OTHER COWBOYS ARE GONNA THINK,

"I DON'T WANT TO TANGLE WITH THIS GUY.

HE'S GOT SOMETHING I DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH."

**

WHISKEY?

NO, THANK YOU.

**

GONNA GET YOURSELF KILLED OUT THERE

GOING HEADS ON WITH THE COWBOYS LIKE THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHOOT HIM?

TO MY MIND, ANYONE CAN BRING IN A DEAD MAN.

A GOOD OFFICER IS THE ONE THAT BRINGS HIM IN ALIVE.

Davis: MORE AND MORE,

MAYOR HENRY REALIZED THAT HE WAS WRONG ABOUT SMITH.

HE WAS NOT HIS FIRST CHOICE,

BUT IN TIME, TOM SMITH MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF HIM.

HOW IS IT OUT THERE?

IT'S QUIET. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THE COWBOYS THOUGHT THAT IF THEY CAN'T SCARE THE LAWMAN AWAY,

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO KILL HIM.

THEY HAD THE NUMBERS,

AND IT MAY TAKE AN ENTIRE POSSE TO TAKE THIS GUY DOWN.

GIVE ME ANOTHER.

WHEN SMITH COMES IN,

YOU GET BEHIND HIM AND BLOCK THE DOOR.

YOU TWO WITH ME.

AND I'LL PUT A BULLET...

IN BETWEEN HIS EYES.

**

YOU'RE UP.

**

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

MARSHAL, COME QUICK.

SOMEBODY'S BEEN SHOT AT THE OLD FRUIT SALOON.

SMITH.

**

BE CAREFUL.

ADIOS, SMITH.

YOUR FISTS AREN'T GONNA SAVE YOU THIS TIME.

**

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE EVER THOUGHT

HE WAS GONNA GET OUT OF THAT BUILDING ALIVE.

**

[ GUN COCKS ]

**

**

IT WAS BASICALLY A SUICIDE MISSION FOR SMITH.

HE KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

THE ODDS WERE STACKED AGAINST HIM.

**

I WAS TOLD THERE'S BEEN A SHOOTING.

THERE'S ABOUT TO BE ONE.

**

EVERYBODY IN THAT OLD FRUIT SALOON

WAS GONNA BE HOSTILE AND WITH GUNS.

SO HOW HE WOULD EVER THINK, WITH HIS BARE FISTS,

HE WAS GONNA TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE,

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SMITH WAS THINKING.

**

HIS TACTIC WAS KIND OF WADING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THEM,

MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SHOOT FOR FEAR OF SHOOTING EACH OTHER.

**

Hook: ONE GUN GOES OFF.

[ GRUNTING ]

SOON, BULLETS ARE FLYING EVERYWHERE.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

**

ALMOST MIRACULOUSLY, SMITH IS NOT HIT.

**

SMITH STARTS JUST KNOCKING GUYS OUT, ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

WELL, SOMEBODY MUST HAVE BEEN LOOKING OUT FOR HIM.

THEY REALLY FELT LIKE SMITH WAS INVINCIBLE.

**

AND FINALLY, HE GETS TO THE MAN THAT HE WANTED,

THE RINGLEADER, THE TEXAN.

**

[ CHUCKLES ]

**

[ GRUNTS ]

I'LL BE BACK FOR THE REST OF YOU.

Gray: EVERY LAWMAN HAD HIS OWN WAY

OF HANDLING A SITUATION.

HE HAD TO BE ABLE TO READ PEOPLE

AND TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THINGS WERE GONNA GO.

SMITH JUST HAD THAT UNDERSTANDING

THAT HE WOULD GAIN MUCH MORE RESPECT

THAN HE WOULD WITH A GUN.

**

Hook: THE COWBOYS ARE ALL OF A SUDDEN READY

TO RESPECT THIS MAN.

IT TOOK A FEAT OF GREATNESS TO DO SO,

BUT SUDDENLY, TEXAS STREET IS TAMED,

AND SUDDENLY, THE COWBOYS RESPECT

A LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

Gray: THESE GUYS -- THEY UNDERSTOOD POWER

AND THEY UNDERSTOOD FAIRNESS,

AND IF A NORTHERN YANKEE WAS GONNA BE FAIR WITH THEM,

THEY GAVE HIM THAT RESPECT

JUST AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD'VE GIVEN ONE OF THEIR OWN.

**

HORSE THEFT BACK THEN WAS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS CRIME,

A LOT MORE THAN A CAR THEFT IS NOW.

IT WAS A HANGING OFFENSE.

Willis: HE WENT INTO NEBRASKA

AND RECOVERED A GOOD PORTION OF THE HORSES

AND ONE OF THE HORSE THIEVES AND BROUGHT HIM BACK TO ABILENE.

GENTLEMEN...

THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE THESE TWO BACK.

Hook: SMITH WAS GAINING MORE RESPECT,

EVEN MORE THAN WHAT HE HAD AT THAT POINT,

JUST BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE HORSES BACK.

HE WAS A HERO, NOT JUST TO THE CITIZENS BUT TO THE COWBOYS,

AS WELL.

NOW, I KNOW YOU WON'T USE THEM, BUT THEY'RE A GIFT --

FOR YOUR SERVICES.

**

CONGRATULATIONS.

**

I'LL WEAR THEM WITH PRIDE.

THANK YOU.

**

Ernst: HE WAS RESPECTED ENOUGH

THAT THE TOWNSPEOPLE HAD GIVEN HIM

A PAIR OF PEARL-HANDLE REVOLVERS.

THAT'S VERY RARELY DONE.

**

Smith: HALT!

Woman: STOP HIM! THIEF!

**

[ GUNSHOT ]

**

Willis: HE TOOK THIS PERSON'S LIFE BY HIS MISTAKE.

**

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAUNT YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU CAN'T EVER TOTALLY GET OVER IT.

YOU CAN'T EVER COMPLETELY FORGET.

Davis: TOM SMITH -- HE IS UNIQUE

BECAUSE HE WAS A SOBER INDIVIDUAL,

HE DIDN'T DRINK, HE DIDN'T GAMBLE,

HE DIDN'T PATRONIZE PROSTITUTES,

AND I WILL DARE SAY

THAT EVERY SINGLE OLD WEST LAWMAN THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT,

YOU'RE GONNA FIND ONE OF THE THREE WAS PREVALENT.

**

Hook: THAT'S WHERE THE DIFFICULTY NOW FOR SMITH WAS

TO UPHOLD THE ORDER.

THAT'S WHERE THE NEW TEXAS STREET WAS.

Gray: IT WAS A DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS PLACE,

AND, YEAH, YOU COULD BE A TARGET OF AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET

OR FIND YOURSELF LAYING IN A BACK ALLEY SOMEPLACE.

THOSE SORT OF THINGS HAPPENED QUITE REGULARLY.

**

CARE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS MAN?

LOOKS LIKE HE'S DEAD.

YOU TELL ME YOU DIDN'T SEE WHAT HAPPENED?

NO, SIR.

YOU, SIR, BETTER COME UP WITH SOME ANSWERS WHEN I GET BACK.

**

Ernst: TOM INVESTIGATED, ARRESTED AN ACCOMPLICE,

BUT THE KILLER GOT AWAY.

HE FELT THE SAME ABOUT PROSTITUTES AS HE DID GUNS --

THEY'RE CAUSING PROBLEMS.

**

Smith: WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN THOSE BROTHELS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

SHUT DOWN THE BROTHELS?

THEY'RE ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.

KEEPING THOSE BROTHELS OPEN IS JUST ASKING FOR MORE

OF WHAT WE HAD DOWN ON TEXAS STREET.

IF WE TRULY WANT TO CLEAN UP THIS TOWN,

WE'LL SEND THOSE BROTHELS THEIR NOTICE TO SHUT DOWN OR RELOCATE.

LET'S FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.

[ INHALES DEEPLY ]

OKAY, SMITH.

SHUT THEM DOWN.

TOM WENT DOWN TO THE WHOREHOUSES, SAID,

"YOU WILL LEAVE TOWN.

THERE'S NOT ANY ARGUMENT.

YOU WILL LEAVE TOWN."

**

GENTLEMEN, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MARSHAL,

HE'S GONNA RUN US OUT OF TOWN...

AND RUIN OUR BUSINESS.

THEY WERE RUNNING THE LAW AT THAT POINT.

THEY DECIDED WHO LIVED AND WHO DIED.

UNLESS...

...WE KILL HIM FIRST.

**

Willis: THE SITUATIONS THAT TOM SMITH PUT HIMSELF IN,

BEING SURROUNDED BY VERY HOSTILE PEOPLE,

ALL ALONE WITH NO BACKUP,

WOULD NOT REALLY GO WITH MODERN TACTICS WHATSOEVER.

WITH CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'D WANT TO GO IN WITH BACKUP

AND TRY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION MUCH BETTER.

Hook: THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THIS GUY

AND MAYBE DISPEL THE INVESTIGATION,

TAKE AWAY THE MURDER CHARGES.

**

[ GUN COCKS ]

**

THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MIRACLES THAT HAPPEN

WHERE ALL THESE BULLETS ARE JUST FLYING AROUND

AND WHIZZING BY YOUR HEAD,

AND THERE'S HOLES GOING ON BEHIND HIM

AND YET NO HOLES GOING THROUGH SMITH.

IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO BE A ONE-MAN POLICE FORCE.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO USE AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF INTELLIGENCE --

EITHER BE SMART ENOUGH NOT TO GET INTO THAT SITUATION

OR TO FIGURE YOUR WAY OUT WITHOUT GETTING KILLED.

**

[ GUN COCKS ]

THE LAST RESORT FOR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT

IS GOING FOR THEIR FIREARM.

**

Hook: IT WAS BECAUSE HE HAD TO USE HIS GUN

THAT REALLY MADE HIM EMOTIONAL

AND BROUGHT BACK THOSE DEMONS THAT HE HAD IN NEW YORK CITY.

**

[ GUNSHOTS ]

**

THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY TIME

I EVER HEARD OF HIM REALLY USING A GUN.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

NORMALLY, HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING PHYSICALLY.

**

THAT TAKES COURAGE.

**

[ GUNSHOT ]

**

SMITH!

SMITH.

WHAT HAPPENED?

IT WAS AN AMBUSH!

AN AMBUSH AT THE DAMN BROTHELS!

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

I'M GONNA RUN EVERY ONE OF THOSE COWARDS OUT OF TOWN

OR PUT THEM IN THE GRAVE!

**

MOVE!

Y'ALL NEED TO GET OUT OF MY TOWN!

**

MARSHAL SMITH SHUT DOWN ALL THE BROTHELS...

CLOSED IT UP.

THAT WAS ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS.

MORE AND MORE, HE WAS GAINING RESPECT.

**

IF I WERE MAYOR HENRY, THE MAN THAT HIRED HIM,

I WOULD'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT

"MAYBE HE MIGHT BE IN MY JOB ONE DAY,"

'CAUSE HE WAS THAT POPULAR.

**

GENTLEMEN. MR. MAYOR.

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND, BUT I'VE BEEN DEPUTIZED A U.S. MARSHAL,

AND THEY'VE ASKED THAT I HELP MARSHAL MacDONALD

TRACK DOWN A COUPLE WARRANTS FOR THEM.

I COULD USE YOUR MARSHAL'S HELP.

GOT A WARRANT HERE TO SERVE TO A MAN IN CHAPMAN CREEK.

FELLA WAS KILLED ON HIS PROPERTY.

HE CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE MURDER.

THINGS HAVE BEEN QUIET AROUND HERE LATELY.

AND I CAN SEE THAT YOU NEED THE MARSHAL'S HELP.

I DON'T MIND A BIT.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO, THEN.

THE DEPUTY MacDONALD TOOK SMITH ALONG

BECAUSE SMITH WAS REALLY THE GUY THAT WAS GONNA DO THE JOB

BECAUSE...HE HAD NO FEAR.

**

YOU McCONNEL?

**

Man: HE'S INSIDE.

KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS OUT HERE.

**

ANDREW McCONNEL, I HAVE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST.

WHAT?

I HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING WRONG.

YOU'RE FACING A CHARGE OF MURDER.

THAT WAS SELF-DEFENSE, DAMN IT! YOU READ ME THAT WARRANT.

Ernst: BACK THEN, IN THOSE DAYS,

THE DEFENDANT COULD DEMAND TO HAVE THE WARRANT READ TO HIM.

SO SMITH, TO DO THAT,

HAS TO LOOK AT A PIECE OF PAPER AND READ THE WARRANT...

"YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO ARREST ANDREW McCONNEL

AND HIM SAFELY KEEP..."

...WHICH MEANS HIS HANDS ARE TIED UP,

HIS EYES ARE SOMEWHERE BESIDES WHERE THEY SHOULD'VE BEEN,

WHICH WAS ON McCONNEL'S HANDS.

"...SO THAT YOU HAVE HIM

BEFORE THE HONORABLE DICKINSON COUNTY COURT OF KANSAS."

**

FROM THAT POINT ON, IT WAS THE WORST MISTAKE HE EVER MADE.

**

**

Ernst: IF YOU'RE GONNA FACE SOMEBODY,

WHETHER THEY'VE GOT A GUN, IT'S MAINLY ATTITUDE.

YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT,

"NO MATTER YOU'RE LITTLE, BIG, WIDE, SMALL -- DON'T MATTER.

I'M GONNA WIN, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL, OR WORSE."

AND YOU HOPE THEIR BUTTON ISN'T PUSHED BY THAT.

**

McCONNEL SHOT TOM SMITH IN THE LUNG,

WHICH WOULD BE DOWN IN HERE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, SMITH IS FINALLY HIT.

HE'S NOT INVINCIBLE, OBVIOUSLY.

**

Ernst: SMITH STILL HAS ENOUGH FORTITUDE

TO DRAW HIS GUN AND HITS McCONNEL.

**

[ BOTH SCREAM ]

Gray: THE DEPUTY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH SMITH...

...YOU WOULD'VE THOUGHT WOULD BE BACKING HIM UP.

**

BUT INSTEAD, HE RUN FOR HELP.

Hook: SMITH GETS HIS BEARINGS ABOUT HIM

AND STARTS THROWING HIS FISTS IN FURY.

**

[ BOTH GRUNTING ]

MILES!

**

MILES!

**

MOSES MILES, THE PARTNER TO McCONNEL,

HITS SMITH OVER THE HEAD AND THEN GRABS AN AXE...

**

...AND HITS HIM IN THE THROAT.

ALMOST DECAPITATING HIM, AND, OF COURSE, HE'S DEAD INSTANTLY.

**

Hook: ONE OF THE MOST GRUESOME ENDS TO SMITH...

AND ONE OF THE MOST GRUESOME TALES OF THE OLD WEST.

**

FOUR MONTHS AGO, THE COWBOYS ON TEXAS STREET

WOULD'VE PUT THESE GUYS ON THE END OF ROPES

AND BEEN TAKING CARE OF IT THEMSELVES,

BUT INSTEAD, THEY GO UP AND GRAB THEM

AND PUT THEM IN THE COURT OF LAW.

**

THE RESULT OF THAT TRIAL

IS THAT ANDREW McCONNEL ENDED UP WITH A SENTENCE OF 12 YEARS...

...AND MOSES MILES, THE MAN THAT KILLED HIM WITH THE AXE,

GOT 16 YEARS.

**

Hook: IT WAS A SOMBER DAY ON TEXAS STREET.

THE COWBOYS HAD LOST WHAT THEY FELT WAS ONE OF THEIR OWN.

Gray: THERE'S THE IDEA THAT, WELL,

IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE BAD CROWD,

YOU KIND OF GOT TO BE A BAD GUY YOURSELF TO GET THE JOB DONE.

TOM SMITH SHOWS YOU THAT'S NOT TRUE.

**

PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, WHO GREW UP IN ABILENE,

WOULD LATER SAY THAT HE WAS REALLY ENTHRALLED

WITH THE TALE OF TOM SMITH,

THAT HE WAS THE ULTIMATE IN A LAWMAN.

Willis: THE TOWN HAD SUCH A RESPECT FOR HIM

THAT 30-PLUS YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH

DECIDED TO EXHUME HIS BODY, REBURY HIM WITH THIS PLAQUE

ABOUT HOW HE WAS A MARTYR TO THE CAUSE OF DUTY

AND MAKING ABILENE A BETTER CITY.

Hook: SMITH IS ONLY MARSHAL FOR SIX MONTHS,

BUT HE WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE TOWN.

HE WAS JUST FEARLESS AND WAS AN AMAZING GUY,

ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

**