Ep 10. The Man Who Murdered Himself

Alias Smith And Jones is a classic Western series that aired for three seasons in the early 1970s. Starring Pete Duel and Ben Murphy as two reformed outlaws trying to make a fresh start in the Wild West, the show was known for its blend of humor, action, and character-driven storytelling.

In season 1 episode 10, titled "The Man Who Murdered Himself", the duo find themselves embroiled in a bizarre case of mistaken identity and murder. The episode opens with Hannibal Heyes (Duel) and Kid Curry (Murphy) stumbling upon a dying man in the middle of the desert. The man, who introduces himself as Tom Clancy, claims to have been shot by a man named Marshal Tom Rutherford. He begs Heyes and Curry to find Rutherford and bring him to justice.

Despite their initial skepticism, Heyes and Curry agree to investigate the case. They ride to the nearest town, where they learn that Rutherford is a respected lawman known for his honesty and integrity. The locals are incredulous when Heyes and Curry accuse him of murder, and they refuse to believe Clancy's story.

Undeterred, Heyes and Curry continue to gather evidence. They soon discover that Rutherford has a twin brother, Tim, who is believed to have died years ago. Suspecting that Tim may be the real killer, Heyes and Curry set out to track him down.

Their search takes them to a mining town, where they encounter a shady character named Ben Wiley. Wiley claims to know where Tim Rutherford is, but he demands a large sum of money in exchange for the information. Heyes and Curry reluctantly agree to Wiley's terms, and they follow him to an abandoned mine.

Inside the mine, Heyes and Curry discover a shocking truth: Tim Rutherford is not only alive, but he has been impersonating his brother in order to carry out a scheme to swindle the townspeople. Tim has been using his brother's reputation to extract large sums of money from the unsuspecting citizens, and he has even gone so far as to frame his brother for a murder he committed himself.

Heyes and Curry confront Tim, who is initially hostile and defensive. However, as they lay out the evidence against him, Tim begins to crack. He confesses to the murder and reveals his motive: he was desperate for money to pay off a gambling debt.

In the end, justice is served as Tim Rutherford is arrested and brought to trial for his crimes. The townspeople are shocked and outraged by his deception, but they are grateful to Heyes and Curry for exposing the truth. The episode ends with Heyes and Curry riding off into the sunset, once again having saved the day and proved their worth as reformed outlaws.

Overall, "The Man Who Murdered Himself" is a classic episode of Alias Smith And Jones that showcases the series' strengths: witty banter, engaging characters, and a compelling mystery that keeps the audience guessing until the end. Fans of classic Westerns and lighthearted crime dramas will find much to enjoy in this episode.