S1 Ep 6 The Lawbreakers

The Lawbreakers, Season 1 - Episode 6

It was not a good night for Judge Cade. The sheriff pulled him from the saloon drunk and takes him to jail, but the sheriff was unaware just who his prisoner is.

Meanwhile, Capt. Reeves from the Adjutant General’s office pulls the sheriff aside and lets him know who he has in his jail. Reeves fills the sheriff in on the missing government money from a robbery the judge was involved in, and that he was just released from prison. The judge has been trying to hire a guide, so they cook up a plan to help him out with that task - and get the money back.

Later at the Sherman Ranch, the sheriff and Reeves tell Slim about their plan. Slim is very interested in the plan because his friend Smokey was killed in the robbery. Both Jonesy and Jess let Reeves and the sheriff know Slim is not the person for the job …too many people know Slim and maybe the judge had been through Laramie and would recognize Slim. Jess speaks up and says he’s their man. Slim doesn’t want to involve Jess but Jess stops him and says…” Don’t go cutten any bullets out of me till I get shot, besides there is more at stake here.” They learn of the finder’s fee that would help out a lot at the ranch.

Later, at the jail, Jess has had a few drinks so he will fit in with the prisoner and the scene plays out. Jess is caught with $200 and the sheriff wants to know where he got it. Not satisfied with his answers the sheriff tells Jess he has to leave town after he has sobered up. The judge is listening and taking it all in. He decided he likes his new roommate after he notices a bottle in Jess’s boot. He tries to grab it but Jess grabs his hand and stops him. But then he does share the bottle and they both get pretty liquored up as they discuss the plan. Jess is pretty excited about the prospects of an extra $1000.00.

On the trail they are met at various times with the rest of the gang. When they buried the money, each member had a portion of the route that they led, while the others were blindfolded. They went in reverse to find the money. Rickert was the first to lead them, later that night he was killed. The next to lead the way was Dallas and Marcy, Marcy decides to sleep away from everyone to stay safe, but Jess finds him with his throat cut the next day. Dallas is next and he dies of a snake bite…carefully planned by the judge. That leaves Jess and the judge. Tthere was one more robber, Chawcktaw, but they all think he is dead.

Jess and the judge travel on their way and they come upon the place where the money is buried. The judge doesn’t know but Jess had kept a derringer he retrieved after Dallas died.

The judge counts off the steps to locate the exact spot where the money is buried so they know exactly where to start digging. Jess quickly hides the derringer in his boot.

They take turns digging and Jess goes to the stream for a drink. The judge hollers that he hit paydirt. Little does the judge know that Chawcktaw has appeared and is holding a gun on Jess. The judge being the con artist he is acts like he is glad to see Chawctaw. “It sure is good to see ya. It’s like Christmas and birthday all wrapped into one. Now we can shoot that feller and get on with our business eh?”

Chawcktaw confesses that he had been following them and took care of the boys one at a time. The judge starts to climb out of the hole they had dug, but Chawcktaw tells him to stay where he is as it will save him some trouble. He tells Jess to join the judge. The judge notices the derringer and Jess stoops down so the judge can grab it. The judge shoots Chawcktaw and he falls in the hole. The judge pulls the derringer on Jess, but he learns that it was empty. Jess lets the judge know who he is and that they were going back to Laramie with the money.

Back at the ranch they feast on cracklin chicken and squashed tatters. The judge shows his talent as a con artist once again and ends up with his freedom as well as an affidavit proving he can collect the bounty on the rest of the robbers. With a mouth full of food he asks if there are any more of those “squashed tatters.”

Rayford Barnes as Marcy