A Killing in Abilene

Originally Aired: December 14, 1950

Suspense #407, "A Killing in Abilene," stars Alan Ladd as Jeff Mander, a man who has traveled 300 miles from Abilene to find Lee Burridge, the man who murdered his brother Seth two years ago. Jeff arrives in Pleasant Valley just as the townspeople unearth the body of Fred Coston, beaten to death in the same brutal manner as Jeff's brother. The angry citizens, led by Ben Chafey, want immediate frontier justice and plan to lynch Burridge themselves. Sheriff Jake Garvey struggles to maintain order, but the mob mentality is growing stronger.

Jeff faces a moral dilemma that puts him at odds with the entire town. He promised his brother's widow he would bring the killer back to Abilene for a proper trial, but the locals believe Burridge deserves to hang in Pleasant Valley for what he did to their friend. When Jeff finally tracks Burridge to his isolated canyon hut, he must decide whether to uphold his promise of lawful justice or let the vengeful townspeople have their way. The tension builds as two communities clash over one man's fate.