The Wrong Man

"The Wrong Man" is the 27th episode of The Rifleman Season One and the 27th episode overall. Directed by Arnold Laven and written by N.B. Stone, Jr., it aired on March 31, 1959.
==Synopsis==
Famous but crooked lawman Jay Jefferson arrives in North Fork intent on killing an outlaw for the reward, whether he is the right man or not.
==Watch==
==Plot==
Jay Jefferson, a lawman widely known as respectable and heroic but who enforces the law by needlessly killing, arrives in North Fork searching for an outlaw named Pete Dawson. Knowing the truth about Jefferson, Micah Torrance knows his true goal is to kill Dawson solely for the $1,000 reward.
Two men in town fit Dawson's description: Curly Smith and Frank Hardy. Jefferson enters a poker game with Curly at the hotel. After winning the round without revealing his cards, Curly accuses Jefferson of cheating. Before the situation escalates, Lucas McCain intervenes and pulls Curly outside, informing him that the man he confronted is the notorious Jay Jefferson.
Meanwhile, Jefferson questions Mark about anyone resembling Dawson. Knowing Jay Jefferson as a respectable and heroic lawman, Mark directs him to Frank Hardy's residence. Despite Lucas's doubts that Frank matches the wanted poster, Jefferson insists he will be able to recognize Dawson because they used to know each other.
At Frank Hardy's house, Jefferson confronts Frank, who is indeed Pete Dawson. Jefferson proposes a deal: for $2,000, he will report Dawson as dead, allowing him to remain free. Frank agrees.
Returning to North Fork, Jefferson falsely accuses Curly of being Pete Dawson and kills him. Lucas and Micah arrive at the scene, and Jefferson claims Curly was the outlaw. Lucas, however, questions why Jefferson failed to recognize Curly earlier when they played poker. Jefferson dismisses the inquiry, attributing his mistake to Curly's mustache.
Lucas rides to Frank Hardy's house and informs him that Jay Jefferson has just killed Curly Smith, falsely claiming he was Pete Dawson. Overcome with guilt, Frank (the real Pete Dawson) rides into North Fork with Lucas. They arrive as Micah and Jefferson are filing paperwork for the reward. Pete confesses his true identity to Micah, prompting Jefferson to draw his gun. Jefferson disarms Micah and forces Lucas to hand over his rifle, but Lucas cleverly uses the rifle to disarm Jefferson, allowing Micah to subdue and arrest him.
Micah tells Lucas that he is now entitled to the $1,000 reward money. Lucas tells him to send it to Curly Smith's son, who is working his way through law school back East.
==Cast==
===Main===
*Lucas McCain - Chuck Connors
*Mark McCain - Johnny Crawford
*Micah Torrance - Paul Fix
===Guests===
*Jay Jefferson - Lyle Bettger
*Curly Smith, Frank Hardy - Robert H. Harris
*First Spieler - Gordon Jones
*Second Spieler - Frank Sully
Category:Episodes
Category:Season One episodes
Category:Episode pages with completed plot sections