This episode once again features "Pinkerton men" after a criminal, and reunites Ian Martin and Lloyd Battista as the good guys. This episode is based on actual files from the Pinkerton detective agency, and is about the capture of William Rudolph a.k.a. "The Missouri kid". Long story short. Rudolph and his crime partner used nitroglycerin to blow open a bank at Union, MO just west of St. Louis, and made off with a lot of money. C.J. Schumacher (sic?), a Pinkerton man, attempts to get the goods on the criminals at their hideouts and (the first time) amazingly escapes with his life, but is then killed in a shootout. Unfortunately for the crooks, his brother is also a Pinkerton "operative", and takes the case... Lloyd Battista voices both brothers, with his "C.J." voice being a reprise of his "hoarse Irish cop" routine without an Irish accent. Ian Martin is enjoyable in episodes like this as well.

This CBSRMT episode was so close to being perfect! James Agate Jr. did a terrific job on writing a story about William Rudolph a.k.a. The Missouri Kid and his partner in crime George Collins. When you hear the sound effects of them robbing the Union Bank in Union, Missouri on December 27th 1902, it makes you feel like you're there. And the sounds of the gunshots at the 18-minute 35-second mark, epic! The acting I loved the most. Lloyd Battista did an amazing job for playing the roles of Charles J & Dan Schumacher. That goes the same for Russell Horton as Sheriff Tom Burch & George Collins. Ian Martin knew how to play an old Western figure when he took on the role of William Pinkerton. Robert Maxwell as The Missouri Kid was a good role for him, but what was greater was Evie Juster for playing Nellie Rudolph with a sweet & innocent voice. But here's the downside in this episode: the music. Sure there was music of a piano, but they used atmospheric/out of this world tunes from THE TWILIGHT ZONE during E.G. Marshall's parts. It needed music of the Old West, like Ep. #1085-ON THE SIDE OF ANGELS. And speaking of E.G. Marshall, he was magnificent for giving us historic details about the Missouri Kid, his crimes, and his death.

You called out something about the CBSRMT and Marshall's comments. He (via the writers) tried to EDUCATE the listener, not INDOCTRINATE them. Sure, there were exceptions. But try finding facts like this today on a network-produced TV or radio show (even, say, on a supernatural episode, at the end of "Carmilla", when Marshall described in gory detail what one was REALLY supposed to do with the corpse (and disposal) of a vampire according to eastern European legend).

I also love this episode. The acting, script, and sound effects made for a wonderful episode. I like a good old western theme and this certainly did not let me down. I also thought Lloyd Battista was brilliant in his roles.

☆☆ A good Pinkerton Detective Agency western