Forgotten Laws

Originally Aired: September 5, 1938The Lone Ranger #875, "Forgotten Laws," the masked rider and Tonto arrive in Springville, Texas, only to discover the peaceful town has fallen victim to a corrupt scheme. Judge Ezra Eccles and the sheriff have unearthed long-forgotten statutes from an old law book and are using them to systematically fleece honest citizens through excessive fines. When rancher Bill Stevens is arrested for carrying a gun and slapped with multiple penalties totaling over a hundred dollars, it becomes clear that no one is safe from these arbitrary prosecutions. Laws against hitching horses on Main Street, driving cattle through town, and even contempt of court are being weaponized for profit, with the judge and sheriff splitting the proceeds.When the Lone Ranger and Tonto encounter a desperate cowman forced to drive his herd through treacherous swampland to avoid further fines, they learn the full extent of the conspiracy. The rancher has already lost his cash, his gun, and now must sell his cattle just to stay out of jail. Recognizing that these forgotten laws are being used to rob the townspeople blind, the Lone Ranger devises a plan. He sends Tonto into town with gold coins, deliberately making himself a target to expose the corrupt operation and restore justice to Springville.