Ep 10. Letter of the Law

Lucas McCain, the Rifleman, serves as deputy sheriff in the town of North Fork, New Mexico. In season 2 episode 10, titled "Letter of the Law," Lucas finds himself in a difficult situation when a band of outlaws rides into town and one of them is an old friend of his.

The man, named Dan Maury, asks for Lucas's help in clearing his name. He insists that he was falsely accused of a bank robbery and that he has proof of his innocence. Lucas is torn between his loyalty to his friend and his duties as a lawman. He knows that if Dan is lying, he will have to arrest him, but if he is telling the truth, he wants to see justice done.

As Lucas investigates the case, he discovers that the evidence against Dan is compelling. There are several eyewitnesses who claim to have seen him at the scene of the crime, and there is physical evidence that links him to the robbery. However, Lucas also learns that the local sheriff may have jumped to conclusions and railroaded Dan without giving him a fair trial.

Lucas tries to convince the sheriff to give Dan a chance to clear his name, but the man is stubborn and refuses to listen. In the meantime, Dan's fate hangs in the balance. If he is found guilty, he will be sentenced to death.

The tension in North Fork reaches a boiling point as the trial begins. Lucas and Dan's friends try to present evidence of his innocence, but the prosecution is adamant that he is guilty. The judge seems to be leaning toward the prosecution's case, which means that Dan's chances of a fair trial are slim.

As the trial progresses, Lucas becomes increasingly frustrated with the legal system. He feels that the judge is biased and that the rules of evidence are being abused. However, he also knows that he must respect the letter of the law and let justice take its course.

In the end, it is up to the jury to decide Dan's fate. Lucas's heart sinks as he watches the jurors file out of the court. He knows that the verdict could go either way.

When the jury comes back with a verdict, Lucas is both relieved and saddened. The verdict is not what he had hoped for, but it is fair and just according to the evidence presented in court.

The episode ends on a somber note as Lucas and Dan say goodbye. Lucas knows that his friend is innocent, but there is nothing he can do to change the verdict. The only thing left for him to do is to hope that justice has truly been served.