Mark and I were at  the General Store getting supplies for the winter when we saw Oat Jackford, a wealthy cattleman who likes to throw his weight around.  Whenever you would see him there usually was trouble.  Bert Sanderson was having a drink while talking to Nils when Jackford approached Nils to get a loose shoe fixed on his horse.  Bert approached Jackford about getting more time on his note that he owed Jackford.  Jackford told Bert he was sorry but he couldn't do it.  Bert tried to tell him that he has had nothing but bad luck lately.  Jackford told him he was tired of carrying him for three years, that he should sell everything and take his whimpering somewhere else.  Just then John Hamilton, the President of the bank came out of the bank with Asa Manning.  When Jackford saw Asa, it just made him more furious.  He stormed towards them.  Jackford started beating on Asa.  John went back into his bank; placed the closed sign on the door.  Just then Michael heard the commotion from his office and decided to check into the situation.  He called to Jackford.  "Jackford.....Hold it! Did you ever hear of an assault?" Asked Micah as he broke up the fight.  "Nobody steals from me or mine!" Exclaimed Jackford.  Micah told Jackford to make out a complaint or leave Asa alone.  Jackford had hired Asa as his bookkeeper and now he was accusing Asa of stealing two thousand dollars from him.  Jackford hit Asa repeatedly. Micah broke up the fight again.

As I stepped out of Hattie's, Bert walked up to me.  "Well it looks like Oat's full of beans today," I said.  "Thanks to him I gotta sell out.....he never gave me a break.....you see.....I have been having bad weather recently," said Bert."  I looked at Bert and said....."We all get the same weather.....it's not Jackford's fault you get wet out of a bottle."  I them approached Micah, Jackford and Asa as Micah was telling Asa he had the right to file a complaint against Jackford.  "Go ahead.....you swear out one.....I'll swear out one."  "Manning the next time I see you I'm gonna get a rope around you and drag the hide right off you back!" Said Jackford.  Boy that brought back memories.  He tried that with me when Mark and I had just bought the Dunlap Ranch.  "Oh yeah.....yeah......the last time you tried that it didn't work out so well did it Oat?" "Don't you ever get tired of throwing your weight around?" I asked Jackford.  With that he hit me.  I fell against the hitching post, breaking it and then landed on the ground.  I got back up and fought back.  Micah then broke up the fight by shooting in the air.  "Break it up.....all of you go home!" Yelled Micah.  "Oat.....your going to get out of town and stay out of town! 'Till you grow up and act like a grown man."  Jackford told Micah if he wanted him to act peaceful; what he needed to do was to keep Asa out of his sight and me out of his hair.  Jackford then walked away.    

I over heard Bert telling Asa that he had to sell out because of Jackford.  Asa told him not to worry about it; that Jackford wasn't going to be around much longer.  I couldn't help but wonder what Asa meant by that.  Although Jackford and I have had out differences; I surely didn't want anything to happen to him.

     Winter was just around the corner and so was the sale for Bert Sanderson's possessions.  Everybody in town was gathering at the Blacksmith's for the auction.  John Hamilton, the President of the bank, was on his way to the auction when he ran into a stranger.  He introduced himself to the stranger.  The stranger told him he wouldn't be needing a banker.  "My name is King.....Mr. Banker.....Tom King. I'll be staying here at the hotel. If I change my plans I'll let you know."  That was enough for John to hear, he  knew the name and so did just about everyone around here, Tom King was a gun for hire.  He rushed off to tell Micah.  Mark and I had just rode into town when we saw John and Micah talking.  I asked Micah if he had time for a cup of coffee.  He told me Tom King was in town and he was on his way to pay his respects.  I told him I would go with him.  King hadn't stopped by Micah's with a warrant.  We couldn't imagine who Tom King would be collecting on this time.  Mark went on ahead to the auction and Micah and I went to talk to Tom King.

We went into the hotel into the dinning area.  Tom was there having his dinner.  We walked over to King.  As I sat down at the table I introduced Micah to King.  "Micah.....this is Tom King. He will kill you or your grandmother if someone would write a warrant and if the price is right"  He said he had no warrant. but he did have a job.  Micah told him he couldn't let him or anyone else take in a man without a warrant.  King said he didn't plan or bringing anyone in.  I asked him who he was here to kill.  "Let me handle this Lucasboy," said Micah.  "I know how fast you are King and I know how you work. So let me tell you not to provoke a gunfight here"  "Since when does the law hire killers?" I asked.   He said he worked independently and that he has been hired to kill someone.  "You slowing down Tom?" I asked.  "No.....no complaints about my speed as of yet.....Lucasboy," mocked Tom.  He said he always found it better to work for someone holding a grudge then some old marshal who can't handle it.  I started to get upset, but Micah calmed me down.  I had rode with Tom King once as his deputy. Tom told Micah that I didn't understand that dead or alive meant dead to the law and that it saved time and money.  Just then I felt the presence of someone standing behind me, it was Asa Manning listening in on our conversation.  I started to put two and two together.  It was Oat Jackford, King was after.  Asa had paid him five hundred dollars to kill Jackford.  King told us to tell Jackford he was looking for him.  King went to the saloon to have a drink and to meet Asa to collect his money.  Micah and I headed on over to the auction.

Micah tried to talk the town folks into backing him up with King.  But when everyone found that Jackford was the man that King was gunning for, nobody wanted a part of helping him.  Everybody hated Jackford.  Well that left that out.  Micah said he'd rather have friends then money.  We figured it wouldn't be long until Jackford would be into town; we were sure he wouldn't miss the auction.  Tom King was everything I hated.  Murder rode into this town today.....filthy.....stinkin' murder!   Mark had been listening to everything Micah and I was saying.  He asked me if I was going to fight Tom King.  "Not if I can help it son," I said.

I decided to go back and try to talk to King again.  I told Tom I had no particular interest in Jackford, but this was my town and I was asking him to leave.  King wouldn't listen to what I had said.  He had already made up his mind.  I got enraged and called King a grave robber and a child killer.  "Don't forget I'm ugly and I smell bad," said King.  "Luke.....I know what your trying to do, but I'm not fighting you," said King.  I told him I wasn't looking for a fight just expressing a personal opinion.  I then left the saloon.  Micah and Mark were outside waiting for me.  I told Micah I couldn't talk King out of it.  Micah suggested that I try and talk Jackford out of coming into town and if not, Jackford's boys would stand up for him even tho the rest of the town wouldn't.  I agreed and told Micah I would wait for Jackford outside of town.  I told Mark to go back to the auction. 

After I was out of sight; Micah headed back into the saloon to tell King to get out of town.  King said he wasn't leaving until he was ready to leave.  Micah told him if he didn't leave he would throw him in jail.  King quickly drew on Micah and asked him what the charges were.  "Disturbing the peace!" Exclaimed Micah.  King told Micah he'd look pretty silly at the trial.  He said he'd go willingly and wanted to hand over his gun to Micah.  Micah looked at him.....he knew King was right.  He turned and walked out of the saloon. 

I didn't wait long outside of town for Jackford to show.  I told him about Tom King waiting for him in town.  He asked if King was a bounty hunter.  I told him Manning had hired King to kill him.  I told him Micah wanted him to stay out of town until things quiet down.  He said if King has come to kill him he would get his chance.  I told him to at least get some of his men.  But Jackford was just as stubborn as ever.  I told him he couldn't handle King alone.  "Can't I?" Laughed Jackford as he headed in the direction of North Fork.

Micah saw Jackford and I ride into town.  He headed straight for the saloon and Jackford and I not too far behind him.  Jackford approached King.  This was Jackford's fight and he wanted us to keep out of his business.  Micah told them they were to do their killing outside of town.  King walked up to Jackford and said....."Let's take a walk.....old man!"  With that they both left the saloon.  Mark was waiting outside for me.  "There's going to be a fight.....isn't there Pa?" Asked Mark.  "There's going to be a killing!" I said.  "I'm glad it's Mr. Jackford," said Mark.  I was surprised by this remark made by my son. "Don't you ever be
glad a man is going to die," I said with disbelief.  "I'm not glad about Mr. Jackford that way.....I kinda like him. I'm just glad it ain't you."

When we reached the edge of town Micah tried to talk to King again.  We all knew Jackford didn't have a chance against Tom King.  But we shouldn't have under estimated the man Oat Jackford was.  "Jackford! They tell me your a horse thief!" Yelled King.  "That's a lie!" Yelled Jackford.  "They say you have the habit of juggling your own books." Yelled King.  That really made Jackford mad! I'm gonna shove that right down your dirty throat!" Yelled Jackford as he started towards King.  "Come on old man.....draw!" said King.  But Jackford just kept getting closer and closer to King.  King kept trying to get Jackford to draw, but he wouldn't.  Micah reminded King if he drew he would be hanged for murder.  Just them Jackford was in King's face.  "You got a reputation.....back it up!"  With that Jackford hit King hard.  Jackford kept hitting King over and over again.  Jackford grabbed King's right hand and told King he was going to put him out of business.  He twisted the gun out of King's hand and the gun fell to the ground, crippling King.  With another hard hit King fell to ground, laying face down in the dirt.  King was in pain.  Jackford then called out to Manning.  Manning was a coward; he ran and hid behind some rocks.  "I told Jackford that King was lucky he never ran into him before."  Jackford, Micah and I all started for town.  We didn't get very far when we heard a shot.  Manning had killed King in cold blood and took his five hundred dollars of blood money from King's pocket.  The three of us turned back to see what was going on, only to find Manning standing over King with a gun.  "You made a big mistake Asa!" Yelled Micah.  "There isn't a jury in the state who would convict a man for shooting Tom King.....I'm famous!" Exclaimed Asa.  "You're dead! Killing a man after he has been beat senseless is murder! Even when the man was Tom King," said Micah as he grabbed the gun from Asa's hand.  "You're gonna Hang Asa!"  Asa wanted us to testify that he killed King in self-defense.  As he looked at each one of us he knew we wanted no part of testify for him.....only against him. 

When we got back into town Mark was waiting on me.  He walked up to me and said....."I'm glad Mr. Jackford is all right."  "If Tom King couldn't kill Jackford.....nobody can," said Sanderson.  I then made the remark....."The only way old Oat Jackford will die is in bed; with 30 great grandchildren standing around sucking their thumbs waiting to count his money." 

---

*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'

piddlin' stuff.....Bert Freed played Oat Jackford in this episode of 'The Money Gun.'  Harold J. Stone played Oat Jackford in the first episode - 'Home Ranch.'
Bert Freed played Ben Crown in 'Short Rope for a Tall Man.' This is the episode that Mark almost got Lucas hung for horse stealing.
First actor to play the role of Lt. Columbo, in a 1960 episode of "The Chevy Mystery Show"

William Phipps who played Asa Manning.  He's the one who hired Tom King to get rid of Oat Jackford.  William had appeared in a lot of things, but what I found most interesting was he furnished the voice of Prince Charming in Disney's cartoon classic "Cinderella."
He was a regular on "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" as Curley Bill Brocius.  He also appeared with Chuck in "Branded".

John Dehner played in four episodes of  "The Rifleman" - 'The Money Gun' ~ he played Tom King a hired gun. 'The Blowout' ~ he played Al Walker a gunslinger. 'The Baby Sitter' ~ he played Wood Bartell a self-righteous, bigoted father. [he was Fancy's Father] 'The Prisoner' ~ he played Major Aaron King, a ex-Confederate officer who seeks revenge on Lucas.
He also appeared with Chuck in "Branded" ~ 'One Way Out' as Joshua Murdock,  "Airplane II: The Sequel" ~ "Support Your Local Gunfighter" & "Bigfoot Wallace"
He started out as an animator for Walt Disney Studios and was a professional pianist. He was on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" regularly cast as a bad guy. He also did Paladin  - "Have Gun Will Travel" on the radio and later when it went to TV he was their first choice but he was already under contract with Warner Brothers for "The Roaring 20's."  He was on "Hardcastle & McCormick" - Guenther Riesemen - 'Surprise On Seagull Beach' ~ Love that "Hardcastle & McCormick!"  I guess you all know that by now!

Jason Johnson played Bert Sanderson. He also was in 'The Deadeye Kid' as Cramer.  He was the bad dude who shot his partner. 
He guest appeared on "Gunsmoke" and also did some writing for the show. 
He has appeared in just about all the old classic westerns!

 Frank Hagney played Nels/Nils in this episode.  How many actors played Nels, Nils or was it Neils?  Was it Swenson or was it Svenson?  For the answer in detail and pictures.....go to my trivia answer page.  See the Blacksmith page.

Earle Hodgins as the Auctioneer.  Earle has done such things as
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"—"Saintly Sinners"—"Guestward Ho!"—"Inherit the Wind"— "The Bat Masterson Story"— "Mardi Gras"—"The Missouri Traveler"—"Up in Smoke"— "The Drill Instructor"—
"The Oklahoman" to name a few.  He has appeared in most of the old TV Western Series Classics.
Hodgins is best remembered for his many roles as a fast-talking con man, medicine-show pitchman or carnival barker who would interrupt his rapid-fire spiel to shoo kids away from his stage ("get away, son, ya' bother me").

  I liked these characters—Oat Jackford and Judge Hanavan—too bad they didn't keep them in more of the episodes.  I did notice that Sam Peckinpah was noted as one of the Teleplay—maybe that was why Jackford was in this episode - wasn't he one of Sam Peckinpah's characters?

'The Money Gun'—The wind is a blowin' in the trees, 'cept those that are painted on the backdrop in the fight scene.  Thanks Rob !

Did you take notice of the area outside of town where the gunfight was to take place?  It looks like the same place in 'Duel of Honor.'

'The Money Gun'—Is Asa saying Mr. Hamilton or Mr. Henson.  Maybe it's just the cigar in his mouth?  "What say U?"  Did you notice the Scottish accent John Hamilton had in the beginning episodes, later his accent is gone? 

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

Trivia—'The Money Gun'

The Rifleman Trivia Index

A Matter of Faith

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updated 10/14/08