While in North Fork, I was on my way to the Marshal's office when this drunk came out of the saloon and fell to the ground. I was trying to help him up, when Marshal Thomlinson came along to help. The Marshal told me this was Micah Torrance, a former lawman turned alcoholic.  He was one of the finest peace officers that ever was. We took him to the jail to sleep it off. After sleeping it off for a day, Micah said he would be on his way if one of us would give him a loan. I told him, I wouldn't give him a dime for a drink, but I'd give him a job and room and board. He explained that he had a crippled right arm. This did not matter to me; I hired him to help us build a corral. I hoped that Mark and I could encourage Micah to give up drinking and do something good with his life. But the ex-lawman felt old, bitter and useless.

 Micah wasn't working on the ranch very long when he got frustrated and needed a drink.  He decided to give up. Mark was puzzled why I was being so 'tuff' on Micah. I explained to Mark that Micah was once a lawman. It had been 5 years since he drew a gun and now is afraid to do so. I hoped that together we would be able to help our new friend. Mark understood and wanted to help.

Three men rode into town. Two of them looking for Micah, to even the score from years ago when Micah was a marshal. They found out that Micah was working at my ranch and they came out to confront him. They weren't concerned with his crippled arm.  All they wanted was revenge for the lead they have been carrying around from him for years. I saw them talking to Micah and started to approach them, they felt threatened by my rifle, so they rode off.  Lloyd Carpenter, the Shelton's brother's friend, killed Marshal Thomlinson. Lloyd rode out to get "The Rifleman". He told me what had happen, anyway, his version. I saddled up; not knowing this was a trap. Micah sensed something strange about the whole situation and told me I was making a mistake. "No, this is my town and Fred was my friend! I didn't ask for this, but it came!"

 "Lucasboy, your way to quick with that rifle, start thinking about the men you are riding into town to face with nothing but a word of a stranger," said Micah.  I was angry and I told him maybe he should come along.  Micah felt he should, but I told him to stay here with Mark.  He told Mark that I am riding into more then I can handle.  That I was a fool riding blind. I rode into town with Lloyd to face these men. Not knowing until later that Lloyd was part of the gang.  I managed to kill Florry.  Catching me unaware, Andrew shot me twice. They were about to finish me off, when Micah showed up with his shotgun and killed the other two men. And that's how Micah became ' The Marshal' of North Fork.

 *Sam Peckinpah was the creator of "The Rifleman" and wrote 'The Sharpshooter' ~ 'Home Ranch'
 He wrote & directed 'The Marshal' ~ 'The Boarding House' ~ 'The Money Gun' ~ 'The Babysitter' — I'm sure glad he added Micah! 

 piddlin' stuff.....James Drury played Lloyd Carpenter in this episode of 'The Marshal.'  He's the one who shot & killed Marshal Thomlinson. Lloyd.  He appeared in another episode of "The Rifleman" ~ 'Death Trap' as Spicer.
 I'm sure most of you know him as "The Virginian."  Chuck appeared in "The Virginian" in the episode 'The Animal' and they also appeared together in "The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw." 
 

Thanks Keith Swearingen for this tidbit..... I'm sure you know of James Drury.  His biggest role was in the TV series "The Virginian."  I met him at a gun show in the Houston area in February of 2005.  We had an interesting conversation about one of my guns, during which I asked him the following question.  I asked "Mr. Drury, weren't you an episode of the Rifleman?"

Mr. Drury didn't even have to stop to think about it.  He just smiled and said "No, young man.  I was in three episodes."  He went on to tell me that he always played the "heavy" specifically recalling an episode where he sat on a rock and played a harmonica.  He laughed when he continued, "Well, I wasn't really playing the harmonica, they just made it look like I was." 

 

James Drury was talking about 'The Marshal' that aired in the first season.

It was a real treat to get to visit with someone who had actually been on the show, and just chat about it.

 Thanks Keith!

Warren Oates played as Andrew Shelton in this episode of 'The Marshal.'  He appeared in several other episodes ~ 'Bloodlines' as Jud Malackie ~ 'The Prodigal' as Santos ~ 'Miss Milly' as Marty Ryan ~ 'Day of Reckoning' as Will Breen. 
He has appeared with James Drury in many episodes of "The Virginian."  He appeared on "The Untouchables".  He was a regular on "Stoney Burke."  He is credited with many things such as "Stripes," "Return of the Magnificent Seven," "Ride the High Country" & "In the Heat of the Night."

Robert J. Wilke played Florry Sheldon in this episode.  He was in the episode of
'The Pet.'  He played Haskins, the bad dude who killed Flecker in the beginning of that episode. 
 He was an expert golfer, it was said by his friend Claude Akins he earned more on the golf course than he ever did in movies. He had done so much in TV and the movies - I can't imagine him ever being idle.  He was another star from of "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Cheyenne Social Club."  He wasn't one of the main characters, but he has one of those faces that you remember but not the name.  He was another guest star on "The Untouchables."

R.G. Armstrong played Marshal Fred Thomlinson in this episode of 'The Marshal' and
'The Sharpshooter.'
Some of the roles I remember him best in are "Friday the 13th" ~
the series ~ "The Predator" & "Purgatory."  He has done so many, many things.

Abby Dalton as Nancy Moore.  She was the niece of Marshal Fred Thomlinson and the clerk behind the desk at the hotel.
Abby is best known for her role as Julia Cumson on "Falcon Crest," her on screen son Lorenzo Lamas (Lance) was actually her son-in-law at one time, he was married to her daughter Kathleen.  "Falcon Crest" was in the top 10 when Abby got to really stretch her talent by playing her nice character everyone liked into a psycho. She has done a lot of other TV shows in the 50's and 60's. She most recently appeared on the long running soap opera "The Young and the Restless."  Remember when she appeared in "Hennesey?"  How about when she made a guest appearance in "Hardcastle & McCormick?"  Love that "Hardcastle & McCormick!"

Bill Quinn as Sweeney

When Micah mentioned the "Whips and Jingles" ~ what was he referring to?
Cowgirl, in your commentary on this episode you asked what the "whips and jingles" are - the term could mean a hangover, but here I think the reference was more likely to Delirium Tremens.
Thanks Renewed Fan!

What familiar nickname do we hear for the first time in the episode
'The Marshal?'   Check out the trivia for this episode.

'The Marshal'—When we meet Micah, his "bad" arm is nearly useless. It gets better in the other episodes.  Thanks Rob!

Trivia—'The Marshal'

The Rifleman Trivia Index

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