Trouble at Silver Creek

Flying A Pictures
Production #48
Original Air Date:
Sunday, March 9, 1952
Network: CBS
Season 2, Episode 23 (2-23)
Running Time: 30 minutes
Black and White

Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum

Brief Synopsis:
Gene and Pat help a reformed outlaw and his daughter when a rich and unscrupulous man tries to blackmail them.

Detailed Synopsis:
Down-on-his-luck prospector Pat Buttram accepts a job with “Kelly the Knife Man” as the receiving end of the knife-throwing act. Notorious, wanted outlaw Chalky White sees them practicing and shoots at Kelly to make him “dance” while throwing knives. Sheriff Gene Autry, passing by, hears the shots, rides to investigate, and chases after Chalky, who leaves Pat after killing Kelly for throwing a knife at him. Gene captures the outlaw and then hires old friend Pat as his deputy since Pat is again out of a job. Rich and unscrupulous Herb Higgins, snooping in the hills, sees Chalky’s arrest and tells his henchmen that there is trouble. Chalky and the others had been doing a job for Higgins: poisoning cattle on Sam Caldwell’s ranch. Later, with Chalky in jail, Gene talks to Caldwell, who has come to the sheriff’s office promising to repay his loan from Gene as soon as possible. Higgins holds the mortgage to Caldwell’s ranch and is threatening to repossess it if he does not receive all of the money. Chalky sees Caldwell and says something cryptic, which bothers Caldwell. Alone in the sheriff’s office, Pat is ambushed by the other outlaws who tie him up and free Chalky. Higgins then visits Chalky’s hideout and finds the outlaws packing up to leave town since their job is finished. Chalky tells Higgins that Sam Caldwell is actually reformed outlaw Dude Williams, who went straight because of his daughter, Alice. Higgins has been trying to force Alice into marrying him and that is why he hired Chalky. She finally agrees when he holds her father's jail record over her head. Chalky, who was paid off in bad money, kills Higgins, but all the evidence points to Caldwell, whom Gene arrests. Pat, however, overhears the outlaws talking about the murder and hurries to town to tell Gene. After a stiff battle, Gene and Pat overpower the bandits, allowing Caldwell and Alice to live freely.

Bonus! Syndication Press Release