There were seven prisoners being transported from the New Mexico Territorial prison to the prison in Yuma by prison wagon.  There was only one stop for supplies and that was North Fork.

The prison wagon was parked in on the main street.  It was dark.  I was in Micah's office.  Mark was outside waiting for me.  He noticed the wagon pull in and the two men driving the wagon go into the hotel.  He was curious to what was in it.  He slowly approached it.  The one prisoner inside, Dorf, was watching and waiting for Mark to get closer.  I had just walked out of Micah's office and saw Mark was a little too close to the wagon for me.  I yelled, "Mark!"  As Mark turned to look at me the one prisoner grab him by his coat.  I rush over to him.  I took the butt of my rifle and rammed it into his hand.  He hollers and called me sodbuster.  I was upset with Mark.  "Mark, what are you trying to do?"  I asked.  "Answer me boy."  "Well...I...I...I'm sorry Pa.  I...I just wanted to find out what it was.  I didn't mean to get so close." "You go t no business going anywhere near that wagon,"  I said. "You can't blame the boy Lucas.  After all that things got no business being in the street in the first place," said Micah.  "It's a prison wagon Mark.  It comes by here once a year on it's way to Yuma. Those men in there have nothing to loose. Even using a boy to try and get loose," said Micah.  I apologized to Mark.  He really gave me a scare.  Micah headed on into the hotel to look for the guards.  Mark was excited when I told him we would go to the hotel and have a steak.  That would probably make us feel better. 

Just as we started to head for the hotel, Dorf, hollered to me.  "Hey sodbuster. Nobody hits my hand and gets away with it. I'll kill ya', ya hear? If I ever get out of this cage, I'll kill ya'. Ya' hear me, I'm gonna kill ya. I'll get you, wait and see."  

As we entered the dining room in the hotel we saw Micah talking to the guards.  He was questioning the food they were going to give prisoners.  He knew they got a mess allowance for the prisoners.  The one guard couldn't see spending too much money on the likes of those prisoners.  Everyone of them was going to Yuma to be hung.  They told Micah that this was there last supply stop.  As soon as they ate they would pick up their supplies and head out. Hattie overheard them.  "The supplies store is closed.  Won't be open until seven in the morning," said Hattie.  The guard said that they would have to wait. "You take the wagon back out on the trail where it belongs. One of you can come back in the morning to get what you need," said Micah.  "Whatever you say Marshal. As soon as we have them fed and have dinner."  "While your at it, get that thing off the streets so it don't offend anybody. You can put it along side of the hotel." said Micah. Micah then came over and sat with us.

 The guard took the food out to the prisoners.  He said the food wasn't fit.  Dorf wanted to get his hands on the guard.  He was so angry that he broke the wooden bowl with his bare hands.  Hode picked a piece of the bowl up and got the idea of using it as a weapon.  Dorf liked the idea.  Five of the prisoners started a fight, while the other two, Dorf and Hoke waited until they could get their hands on him.  When the guard go close enough to the door Hoke hit him hard with the piece of wooden bowl.  They grabbed him and before they left him drop, they got the keys to the wagon. 

The other guard who was in the dining room eating thought he better go see what was taking the other guard so long.  He went out of the hotel.  It was dark.  The wagon wasn't moved.  He slowly approached the wagon.  Dorf came up behind him and knocked him out.  They carried him out of the way.

Dorf sent Hodie to get the guns at Micah's office.  Hoke started for the horse.  Dorf stopped him.  He then sent Gibbons to watch the back door of the hotel.  Hoke wanted to leave.....now.  Dorf had Frost break into the Gunsmith's and ammunition and then over to the store to get decent cloths and decent food for them.  But before they rode out he had a score to settle with me.  He told the other two he'd meet them back at the saloon.  "That sodbusters gonna be sorry the day he was born."

As Micah was leaving the hotel Hattie stop him.  "Micah, you let us know when that wagons gone. May and I are not leaving here until it's off the street."  "Alright Hattie," said Micah.  Hattie told May "On second thought, I'll open up the store again after we're through eating and they can get what they need and clear out. Why it isn't fitting for a thing like that to be near decent people."

Micah was surprised when he came out of the hotel and saw the wagon still there.  He walked around it.  He saw the prisoners were gone.  He hear a noise coming from the General Store.  It was two of the prisoners.  He told them to hold it.  They began shooting.  Then ran into the saloon. 

Now they were all hold up in the saloon.  The others wanted to leave but Dorf made the decision to stay.  He wanted me.  "We'll leave when I say," said Dorf.  The others kept insisting on leaving but Dorf wouldn't budge.  "I ain't forgettin' they were wanna hang us.  I hate forgettin' those months and years we spent in that hole. How those guards beat us like we were animals. That sodbuster smashed my fingers. That's the last man that's ever gonna touch me," said Dorf.  "Now shut up and get back to your drinkin'."  They knew there was no reasoning with him. 

Micah yelled to them....."Hey, you in there. Ya' hear me?"  "We hear ya'," said Dorf. "What do you want?"  Asked Micah.  "Whose askin'? Is that you Marshal?"  "That's right," said Micah.  "Well now your a real smart man Marshal. You can see that from where were standing there ain't much in this street we're gonna miss."  "We can see that. What do you want?" I asked. "That you sodbuster? I'll tell you what I want. I want you! That's all, just you! You and me. We got a little score to settle." Said Dorf.  He had to be the one who grabbed Mark. "Hey sodbuster, look here. You to Marshal. See what I got here? I got a little baldheaded bartender. He's so scared he's shakin' all over. Fact is, he's so scared he liable to make me pull the trigger on this gun I'm holdin' to his head."  May came running over to the door, yelling and crying.  I pulled her away from in front of the door.  "Let me go, let me go, they'll kill him," screamed May.  Hattie tried to calm her down.  I could understand how she felt.  Sweeney is May's husband.  He said he wouldn't do anything to him if I came out. Frost told Dorf he was local.  Dorf killed him.  May screamed and was crying harder.  She thought it was Sweeney who was shot.  "He's alright, he's standing there. Look.....look for yourself May."  "Don't hurt him please," cried May.  "It's you they want! Why don't you do something. You can't let him die."  I looked at Mark.  He was worried.  "Alright! What do you want with me?"  "Sodbuster, remember what I told ya? You hurt me, all I want to do is hurt you."  I went out to confront him.  We got into a fist fight.  While everybody was busy watching Dorf and I fighting, Micah snuck around back and then snuck up along side of the hotel to where Gibbons was watching the fight.  Micah knocked him out.  He then came out front of the hotel.  He stood there watching, sizing up the situation.  He starts shooting in the air.  It scared the horses off, along with the prison wagon.  I rushed to my rifle and killed Dorf.  Micah shot Hoke.  The rest of the prisoners put down their guns, hands raised.   Sweeney and May ran to each other.  Relieved, Mark came over by side.  He put his arm around my shoulder.

piddlin' stuff.....Don Megowan played Dorf.  He's the one whose hand Lucas hurt.
He appeared in "Branded" as Caruthers in the episode 'Price of a Name' ~  "Cowboy in Africa" as Sims in the episode  'To Build a Beginning'.  He was in "Blazing Saddles".  He was a regular in the TV series "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" as Col. William Travis.  This Cowboy has appeared in about everything imaginable way back when.

Bing Russell played Sanchez in this episode of 'Seven,' he was one of the condemned murderers who escaped and took over the town of North Fork.   He also appeared in another episode, 'A Matter of Faith' as Hode Evans.  He's the one who beat on Mr. Jonas and threw the dirt at Lucas.  
He appeared in "Branded" with Chuck in the two episodes ~ 'Very few Heroes' & 'The Golden Fleece'  He also appeared in "Bonanza" as Deputy Clem Foster from 1963 -1973. He also appeared in "The Magnificent Seven."  Another "Untouchables" star.
  He also was the father of actor Kurt Russell.  He appeared in "Overboard" with his son, Kurt & Goldie Hawn.  He's done a lot of great stuff!  I tip my cowgirl hat to you!

Hal Jon Norman as Frost.  He's one of the prisoners.  He also appeared in the episode 'The Pet.'
He has appeared in "The Restless Gun" ~ "Bonanza" ~ "Rawhide" ~ "Daniel Boone" ~ "The Tallman" ~ "The High Chaparral" ~ "The Wild Wild West" ~ "Tales of Wells Fargo"

 Paul Sorensen played one of the guards.  He's the one in the beginning of the episode who fed the prisoners before they broke free.  He's the one they got the keys from.  He also was in "The Rifleman" as Vic Adler in 'The Sixteenth Cousin.'
He was a regular in "Dallas" as Andy Bradley
He also appeared in "The Untouchables."  He has appeared in just about everything imaginable.
He also appeared in Star Trek III: "The Search for Spock" as the Captain.  He had a recurring role on "Dallas" as Andy Bradley.  He was Rigger on "Dynasty".  He also was in "Barnaby Jones"—"The Rockford Files"—"Charlie's Angels"—"Chips"—"Gunsmoke"—"Kolchak: The Night Stalker"—"Marcus Welby, M.D."—"Escape to Witch Mountain" to name a few.  He sure did his share of Westerns too.

Stop by and say Howdy to Pete and check out his great pages
From a family of minstrel performers, tough-looking John Cliff (born Clifford) toured with carnivals prior to landing in Hollywood shortly after World War II. In scores of films from 1946, the dark-haired Cliff was almost always cast as a heavy, notably in Westerns, and would later become equally busy on television. He retired from performing in 1968 and went into real estate. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide The other prison wagon guard is John Cliff, one of my favorite baddie actors.
he played the guard who actually got to eat dinner. Thanks Pete Villafea
Thanks to Pete, John went uncredited until now. 
Check out these great Western sites!  How about Gunsmoke - TV/radio?
Cowboy Compass & The Gunsmoke Primer 

Bill Quinn as Sweeney the bartender
Do you know Sweeney's first name?   Have you ever heard anyone call him by his first name?  I think I heard May (Sweeney's wife) call Sweeney, Bill.  Was this a blooper and May used Bill's real name by mistake?  You would think May would know her husband's name.  ; )   Cowgirl!

"You and better watch your P's and Q's"—In the colonial days, drinks were served in pint or quart sizes. If a customer was getting too rowdy, the bartender would say "Mind your Ps and Qs".
Thanks Donna for submitting the question & thanks Linda C. for the answer.

Helen Beverly as May, Sweeney's wife. 
She played Rebecca in "The Robe."  She was  Hodel (the blind) in "The Light Ahead."  She appeared in "Green Fields" with Herschel Bernardi.  She also was a guest on "This is your Life" for Herschel Bernardi.
 She was once married to actor Lee J. Cobb ["The Virginian"]

Hope Summers as Hattie Denton

Robert Bice played Joe Hallager in the 'The Mind Reader.'  He was Lucy's father.  The man that Billy Mathis [Michael Landon] was accused of killing.  He was Len Richards in 'Deadly Image.'  He was the one who accused Lucas of killing his brother.  The 'The Coward' as Ben Smith, he also appeared in 'Seven' as the warden of the New Mexico Territorial Prison - uncredited.
He was a regular on "The Untouchables" - Captain Jim Johnson. 

*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with

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