**SPOILERS** Take yourself back, if you can imagine it. No indoor plumbing, Cholera, Typhus, a host of other quick endings that nature brought; plus, human predators that happily pounce on someone weaker, or someone they disagree with (for whatever reason). How about the law? Well, it's generally good, when it is around, sober and reasonable. Dodge City had good law, when it was there; when it wasn't, well, people tended to take care of immediate problems immediately.
One thing about Matt Dillon, he enforced the law the best way he could. Problem was, some people will hunt others down when He's not there. This is where the townsfolk decided to take a hand. As in: stringing up two fellows who were going to keep coming after a friend of theirs, and who they caught in the act of lynching their friend. I support their efforts, in this case; and to hell with the killers who deserved a short rope. They knew that if they just stopped it, Matt would have to let them go, and they'd just try again.
Why don't we talk about something else that's near and dear to my so-called heart? What do you suppose happens to the guns and horses of the bad guys that are unlucky enough to run afoul of superior strength? Take yourself back again, and look on the wall of Matt's office, and the jail. Do you really think that the town bought a bunch of rifles and shotguns when all they had to do was confiscate what they already had their hands on? Hand guns, too. Horses? Most likely they were added to the "paid side" of the livery bill, and loaned out if they needed mounts for a posse. As far as funeral bills? Have you ever looked at the condition of "Boot Hill"? Cheap, fast, and over with. "The broker the 'poke, the faster the funeral".
The best line in the show was Doc's. "I wonder if the enjoyed it"; while walking away from the lynch site. Matt says "Enjoyed what"? doc replies "The hangin' they were wanting so all-fired bad"?
One thing about Matt Dillon, he enforced the law the best way he could. Problem was, some people will hunt others down when He's not there. This is where the townsfolk decided to take a hand. As in: stringing up two fellows who were going to keep coming after a friend of theirs, and who they caught in the act of lynching their friend. I support their efforts, in this case; and to hell with the killers who deserved a short rope. They knew that if they just stopped it, Matt would have to let them go, and they'd just try again.
Why don't we talk about something else that's near and dear to my so-called heart? What do you suppose happens to the guns and horses of the bad guys that are unlucky enough to run afoul of superior strength? Take yourself back again, and look on the wall of Matt's office, and the jail. Do you really think that the town bought a bunch of rifles and shotguns when all they had to do was confiscate what they already had their hands on? Hand guns, too. Horses? Most likely they were added to the "paid side" of the livery bill, and loaned out if they needed mounts for a posse. As far as funeral bills? Have you ever looked at the condition of "Boot Hill"? Cheap, fast, and over with. "The broker the 'poke, the faster the funeral".
The best line in the show was Doc's. "I wonder if the enjoyed it"; while walking away from the lynch site. Matt says "Enjoyed what"? doc replies "The hangin' they were wanting so all-fired bad"?