The Second Witness

"The Second Witness" is the 23rd episode of The Rifleman Season One and the 23rd episode overall. Directed by Lewis Allen and written by Judy and George W. George, it aired on March 3, 1959.
==Synopsis==
Lucas puts his life in jeopardy when he steps in as a witness against infamous gunslinger Slade Burrowes after the original witness is murdered.
==Watch==
==Plot==
Two men escort Tom Williams to Silver City to testify against the notorious gunslinger Slade Burrowes. On the way, Williams is shot and killed from a distance by an unknown assailant, who then flees.
Lucas arrives at Micah's office, where Doc Burrage confirms Williams' death. Micah and two escorts, one of whom is a marshal, explain that Williams was crucial to convicting Burrowes. Lucas recognizes Williams from a previous sighting with Slade and another man, realizing he has crucial eyewitness testimony. Lucas agrees to replace Williams and testify in Silver City.
Word spreads that Lucas plans to be the new witness, and several townsfolk try to dissuade him, warning of the danger, but Lucas remains resolute.
The next morning, Lucas finds an unfamiliar horse tied at the ranch, with a rifle in its saddle. Mark explains that the horse belongs to Brad, a new friend who helped cure his sick horse. Lucas cautions Mark about making friends too quickly. Micah arrives on the ranch and meets with Lucas, presenting to him a rifle with a telescopic sight, saying that whoever killed Williams must have used a similar weapon to make the shot from so far away.
After Micah leaves, Lucas notices the rifle holster on Brad’s horse is now empty. He confronts Brad, who threatens Mark before Mark goes off to school. Once Mark is gone, Brad—revealed to be Burrowes' brother—produces the telescopic rifle from behind a hay bale and forces Lucas to saddle up at gunpoint, intending to kill him on the trail just as he did Williams. Mark unexpectedly returns, distracting Brad and allowing Lucas to disarm him. Brad is knocked out, and Mark explains he returned because he found Brad's sudden friendship suspicious after Lucas had advised him to be cautious.
Lucas bids farewell to Mark and Micah before setting out from North Fork to testify against Slade Burrowes.
==Cast==
===Main===
*Lucas McCain - Chuck Connors
*Mark McCain - Johnny Crawford
*Micah Torrance - Paul Fix
===Recurring===
*Hattie Denton - Hope Summers
*Doc Burrage - Edgar Buchanan
===Guests===
*Brad - Michael Pate
*Phil Rogers - Bill Meigs
*Tom Williams - Bill Catching
*Mr. Toomey - Robert Foulk
*Freddy Toomey - Robert Crawford
Category:Episodes
Category:Season One episodes
Category:Episode pages with completed plot sections