Micah was standing outside his office when he noticed a man riding into town. The rider asked him if there was a lawman here. "Marshal Torrance," said Micah. The rider introduced himself as Jay Jefferson. He asked Jefferson what he wanted in North Fork. Jefferson told Micah what he wanted was his co-operation. He was looking for a man named Pete Dawson. 
Jefferson told Micah that Dawson was wanted for a ten year old robbery of the Eagle Rock Bank. He showed Micah a wanted poster on Dawson: 40 years old, blue eyes, bald, 5' 7". Micah told the man he didn't know any Pete Dawson. Jefferson asked if anyone in the neighborhood fit the description? "That description can fit a lot of men in this town as most any other town," said Micah. Jefferson was not interested in any other town. "You heard my answer," said Micah. "None of them are the man you are looking for." He felt his name deserved more respect then Micah was giving him. Micah heard of Jefferson. He heard of the legend, but somehow the legend didn't fit the truth. Jefferson was only interested in bringing his men in dead and Micah knew that.
There was a carnival in town, and I decided to take Mark. He was watching the man who was running the shell game. Mark thought it looked easy. He was sure he could win. "Round and Round the shell goes, where the pea hides, nobody knows, the hands slicker then the eye, Why not double your money," said the operator of the shell game. "Pa, I saw where the pea went, alright if I bet my dime?" ask Mark. "That's a game of cha
nce son," I said. "But there ain't no chance to it, it's a sure thing Pa." I ask my son if he was prepared to loose just in case it's not. Mark was sure that the eyes was quicker then the hand. It's his money, I left that up to him. Mark watched the man move the shells around and was confident that he would win. He picked the middle shell, but did not win. He was disappointed because he had lost. He was so sure he had picked the right one. He had dug five post holes to earn that money. He was upset and didn't want to play anymore games. I told him how lucky he was. It only cost him a dime to find out what a lot of men spend a fortune learning. "Learnin' what" asked Mark. I told him that things in life don't come free and easy. Even when something seems free, well he just found out, it's not. Mark looked up at me with a grin on his face, he understood and joined in with the games.
We weren't there very long when a fight broke out between Jefferson and the man who operated the shell game. Jefferson ended up getting knocked out. The Carnie guy started to go thru Jefferson's wallet. I approached him and told him that's not his money, that he better get back to his game. The Carnie guy took a swing at me. Before I knew it, several other men with the carnival had ganged up on me too. We heard shots. "Alright, that's enough," said Micah. 
He told the men to pack up their gear and get out of town. We heard someone yelling "help!". I went to see what was going on. I found Jefferson beating on the shell operator guy. "All in a days' work, huh friend?" said Jefferson as he walked away.
Micah asked me if I recognized Jefferson. He told me those that get paid for keeping the peace knew him for what he really was. He kills his opposition. He'd shoot anybody that got out of line. He told me what Jefferson was here for. He was here for blood money. He told me about Pete Dawson. That could be Curly Smith or Frank Hardy. Micah didn't think it was either one.
Jefferson went into the lobby of the hotel and saw Curly setting at the table with a deck of card in hand. "Poker?" asked Jefferson. Curly agreed. Jefferson ask Curly if he lived around here long. He told Curly he reminded him of someone he use to know. Jefferson called. Curly had him beat with an all heart flush. "Not good enough, full house, kings over 10's," said Jefferson. Jefferson started to gather up the cards when Curly called him on not showing his cards face up. As far as Curly was concerned he was cheated!
That angered Jefferson and wanted him to repeat what he had just said. I was aware of what was going on. I took Curly by the arm and led him outside before anymore was said. I told Curly who that man was. He was obliged for me getting him out of the hotel and wanted to apologize to Jefferson. I told him I would do that for him. While I was out with Curly, Jefferson called Mark over. Your Pa is a pretty smart man. "Yes sir, there ain't no flies on my Pa, said Mark. Jefferson then showed him the handbill on Pete Dawson. I overheard Jefferson asking Mark questions and I butted in. I looked at the poster and told him that Frank Hardy was 50 if he's a day. He assured me he didn't need the picture to identify him. He used to know Pete Dawson back east. With that, he rode out of town toward the Hardy ranch.
Jefferson came back to town empty handed. Micah felt Jefferson would be leaving and taking trouble to some other town. He was glad to get rid of him. I decided to get Mark and head for home. Before we could leave we heard shots ring out from the hotel. I rushed into the hotel to see what was going on. Curly was lying dead on the floor. Jefferson told me that Curly Smith was Pete Dawson. I asked him why he didn't take him this morning when they were playing poker. He said he did not recognize him then. He was fooled by the chin whiskers and his mustache. Curly had two bullets thru the heart. Jefferson wanted an official report from Micah on Pete Dawson's description and measurements. He needed proof to tak
e back to Missouri that Pete Dawson was Dead.
I decided to ride out to Frank Hardy's ranch to talk to him. I told Frank about the trouble we had in town. I asked him if he knew Jay Jefferson. He told me he was at his ranch this morning. He told me that Jefferson thought he might be the man he was looking for. "Pete Dawson?" I asked. I told him about a half hour ago Jay Jefferson shot and killed Curly Smith. He claimed Curly Smith was Pete Dawson. Jefferson had gone out to Frank's place to blackmail him. Jefferson had collected the reward on Curly as Pete Dawson and the blackmail money from Frank aka Pete Dawson. Frank sees that his attempt to stay out of trouble with hush money in some sense contributed to Curly's death.
Jay Jefferson was getting ready to leave town when I rode in with Frank. "Micah, Frank's got something he wants to tell you," I said. "My name isn't Frank Hardy, it's Pete Dawson. I'm wanted in Missouri for robbery. I guess I'm part to blame for Curly's death," said Frank. Jefferson had killed "The Wrong Man." Jefferson dr
ew his gun and told us to stay right where we are. Jefferson got careless this time. He was greedy, that's what made him slip up this time. He asked for my rifle. He told me to toss it to him. I slowly started to hand it to him and with that, I flipped it around and tossed it at him. I hit him and knocked him to the ground. "Jefferson, I arrest you for the murder of Curly Smith," said Micah.
Mark and I were getting ready to leave town, when Micah stopped me to tell me about the reward money I had coming. I told him to send the money to Curly's Smith's son back east. I heard he was working his way thru law school. "That's an awful lot of money to be giving away, isn't it Pa?" asked Mark. "Yes it is son, but I don't think we'd enjoy spending money earned that way do you?" I asked. "I'll have to think about that one Pa!" said Mark.
piddlin' stuff.....Lyle Bettger played Jay Jef
ferson in the episode 'The Wrong Man'. He appeared in another episode as Hoyt Coyle owner of the 'Skull' Ranch.
He became one of the screen's better villains, especially in westerns. How many of you remember him from Cecil B. DeMille's "Greatest Show on Earth?"
Gordon Jones played the Carnival Barker. He also played played loud mouth - greedy - whiskey salesman Vince Medford in 'Stopover.'
Big, beefy character actor best known as Brit Reid in "The Green Hornet" film serials and Mike the cop on the Abbott and Costello TV shows. You might remember him from the Abbott and Costello show. He played Mike the Cop. He was only 52 when he died but his list of credits for that time frame are remarkable.
Frank Scully played the second spieler. [spieler is a barker, at a circus side show]
Robert H. Harris played a duel role in this episode ~ Curly Smith & Frank Hardy. He was the man Jay Jefferson was looking for. He later appeared in another "Rifleman" episode, ' The Tension' as Ezra Martin. He was the father of Clemmie [Harry Dean Stanton] & Gavin [Jack Elam]. Another "Untouchables" star.
His real name was Robert H. Hurwitz in New York . He appeared extensively on television series. From 1953-1956 he played Jake Goldberg in "The Goldbergs." He also made many Guest Appearances in many other TV series. These include eight appearances in Alfred Hitchcock Presents between 1956-1961 and six appearances in Perry Mason between 1958-1965. He also has appearred in other television series such as "77 Sunset Strip"—"Ben Casey"—"Rawhide" to name a few.
'The Wrong Man'—Lucas gets into a fight with carnies, it ain't Lucas.
Thanks Rob!
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with 
Trivia—'The Wrong Man'
