The Mistake: A Costly Error

Originally Aired: March 19, 1955 The Mistake: A Costly Error: In this tense episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon makes a critical misjudgment that leads to tragic consequences. When a saloon dealer named Earl Haney is found brutally beaten and robbed in an alley, he manages to identify his attacker before succumbing to his injuries. The culprit, he claims, is a tall man with red hair—a description that immediately points to gambler Jim Bostick. Matt wastes no time in arresting Bostick, despite the man’s protests and claims of an alibi. But before Doc Adams can confirm Bostick’s whereabouts, the accused man escapes jail, riding hard for Coldwater. Determined to bring him back, Matt and Chester pursue him across the prairie, certain they’ve got their man. But just as they catch up to Bostick and haul him back to Dodge, a second murder takes place under eerily similar circumstances. This time, the real killer unknowingly exposes himself, bragging about how easy it was to strike again while Matt was out chasing the wrong man. Realizing his error too late, Matt is forced to let Bostick go, grappling with the weight of his mistake. The episode ends on a somber note, with Matt acknowledging that even lawmen aren’t infallible—and that justice, once delayed, can sometimes come at a terrible price. Keywords: "Gunsmoke The Mistake episode," "March 1955 Gunsmoke radio," "Matt Dillon Jim Bostick arrest," "Dodge City saloon robbery," "marshal’s wrong judgment," "John Meston Gunsmoke scripts," "classic Western radio drama." Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin, James Nusser.