Bonanza, one of television’s longest-running and most popular series, is a family show that continues to resonate with viewers after its initial release. The show aired over 400 episodes for 14 seasons, not including the spin-off films, books, and comic strips. Jean Allison plays Sally, Dan White plays Jackson, and Bern Passey plays Giles in the twenty-sixth episode, The Avenger, written by Clair Huffaker, premiered on March 19, 1960.

Ben and Adam Cartwright are found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. Lassiter (Vic Morrow), a mysterious stranger, rushes to their aid. The Cartwrights, grateful but perplexed, try to decipher the reason behind Lassiter’s willingness to assist them, only to discover that someone lynched the stranger’s parents years before.

Read the plotline, including some interesting trivia, or watch the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of The Avenger

Watch the Full Episode of The Avenger:

Main Cast

Apart from the main cast, Bonanza’s twenty-sixth episode, The Avenger, also featured some of the show’s recurring and one-time supporting cast actors. The episode’s complete cast includes:

• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Vic Morrow as Lassiter
• Jean Allison as Sally Byrnes
• Richard Devon as Mr. Hawkins
• James Anderson as Fred
• Harry Swoger as Bert
• Ian Wolfe as Ed Baxter
• Nestor Paiva as Thornton
• Robert Griffin as Sheriff Hansen
• Eugene Mazzola as Jimmy (as Eugene Martin)
• Bill Catching as Hoag
• Robert Brubaker as Barney Arden
• Bern Bassey as Hangman’s Assistant (uncredited)
• Bill Clark as Bill, Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
• Mason Curry as Storekeeper (uncredited)
• Dan White as Zeke Jackson (uncredited)

Full Story Line for The Avenger

A couple of men prepare for the hanging of Adam and Ben.

Meanwhile, the two Cartwrights remain in prison, accused of murder and awaiting execution by hanging on a witness statement: the deceased man’s daughter. Joe and Hoss arrive to help after finding the dead man’s body somewhere 100 miles north of Virginia City. Ben requests three things: to speak to the accuser, Sally Byrnes, to withdraw her testimony; to help Ed Baxter to publish an article to influence the public; to start a petition for a stay of execution. Ben also warns them about the Hawkins men in town. Little Joe and Hoss then leave the prison to get their horses.

As the people wait for the hanging, a stranger arrives in town. The stranger came from Lassiter, a city in Kansas. He asks if there’s an upcoming hanging but explains that he isn’t there to watch since he is looking for someone.

Little Joe and Hoss were about to leave the livery when Joe unintentionally bumped his saddle into the stranger who sarcastically called him a kid. After a brief scuffle, the stranger leaves and heads to Sally Byrnes’ dining establishment and boarding house to get dinner. Sally asked him if anything was wrong, to which he replied how lonesome the town looked. She explained how everyone’s afraid to watch the execution of the Cartwrights, but the stranger pointed out that someone’s been counting the days. Joe and Hoss enter the restaurant, attempting to reason with her, but Sally stays firm with her statement at the trial. After seeing they can’t do anything with Sally, the two decided to leave.

Sally explained what had happened to his father to the stranger. She is utterly furious, and the stranger expresses how he understands her feelings.

Lassiter (the stranger named after Lassiter, Kansas) has a personal reason for attending the hanging. He thinks Ben might be the person he was hoping to exact revenge on for the passing of his father. Lassiter visits Ben in jail to confirm. However, he realizes that Ben is not the man he’s tracking. Despite his disappointment, he takes a liking to Ben when he overhears him telling Hoss that whatever they must do, there shouldn’t be any violence.

The stranger enters the town bar where the Hawkins men stay as they wait for the hanging. One of the men asked if Lassiter was a friend of the Cartwrights, to which he responded, “yeah.” Outside, Jimmy stumbles on an angry Bert, who messed with the stew supposedly for Ben and Adam. Lassiter comes to the rescue, followed by Hoss.

Upon seeing Lassiter’s action, Hoss asks whose side he is now. Lassiter believed that the wrong kind of people ended up in jail in the town. Hoss says that Ben and Adam shot back at the person who fired at Mr. Byrnes from the dark. Since it was dark that night, he thinks Sally got the wrong impression of what happened. Hoss also explained that the other witness, Deuce Martin, was probably scared, bought off, or something else. Little Joe arrives, telling Hoss that Barney hasn’t gotten the petition signed. The two set forth while Lassiter visits Sally.

Unfortunately, the threat of a gang whose leader is accountable for the death of Sally Byrnes’ father caused the locals to quiver in fear. Upon visiting Barney’s house, they discover Barney hiding because of the threat he received. Hoss and Joe decided they’d have the petition signed but found that no one wanted to do so out of fear. When the newspaper editor tries to insert the article defending Ben and Adam, he gets roughed up and has his office ransacked.

Lassiter shows up and aims his gun just in time when Joe and Hoss have to stand up to the Hawkins men.

Back at Sally’s restaurant, Jimmy arrives, saddened by the fact that he couldn’t bring the Cartwrights’ last supper in time. There he explained how he wanted to do something for them, considering how one of them gave him a Christmas horse even if it was the middle of the summer.

Lassiter talks to Sally again, aware of her attraction to him. She recalls her story of the night her father died, seeing how they killed her father from the kitchen window. However, Lassiter noticed that the window was filthy with dust, making it hard for anyone to see.

Outside, Ben and Adam march to the gallows. Meanwhile, Lassiter narrates the details to Sally as the moments unfold. Seeing the Cartwrights on the gallows, Sally breaks down and rushes out into the street to inform the sheriff that she lied, admitting that she didn’t see the two Cartwrights kill her father.

Lassiter tells the leader of the murder posse that he recognized him from another hanging party. The group then turns to shoot Lassiter, but he manages to dodge each bullet through a series of evasive moves. He fires back at the group until the sheriff tells him to stop.

Ben and Adam are free from the execution, and Lassiter leaves. As Lassiter departed, he crossed the Cartwrights, who thanked him for his help. It appears that Lassiter understands them since his father faced the same execution unfairly. The Cartwrights encourage him to stay, but Lassiter is more driven to avenge innocent men wherever he can find them.

Full Script and Dialogue of The Avenger

Keeler, put the horses away.

Harry, Brag, take
a look around town.

Anything going on, I
want to know about it.

Well, now...

ain't that a
beautiful sight, huh?

Miss Sally?

Are you satisfied now, Sally?

Howdy, Mr. Baxter.
I've been looking for you.

Have a petition?


 


Yeah. Ah.

Not many names.

I'll get more.

I got to.

Hold it, Keeler. What for?

This one is tight enough.

Come here, Giles.

The old man's a 200-pounder.

Here.

Yeah, a little...

about three feet
will suit him... good.

Yeah... all right.

Well... the boy
is lighter and wiry.

He'll need about
four and a half feet,


 


which is exactly
about what we got.

Yeah.

Well, I never did like
these night hangings.

Ain't like in the morning,
when it's cheerful.

Well... guess it
don't matter none

to Ben and Adam Cartwright.




Two hours to go.

No guns in sight.

That's good.

If my boys weren't supposed

to bring guns into
town, they won't.

Morning, Joe, Hoss.

How are you, sir? Bill.

Okay, go ahead.

Joe.

Hi, Pa.

Hoss. Pa, Adam.

We found him, Pa.

Dead.

How did he die?

We found him about
100 miles north of here.

Looked like he'd
fallen off of a cliff.

Or was thrown off.

Deuce Martin?

Yes, sir.

We left his body with the
sheriff up at Spottswood.

Now, there are only two
witnesses to that killing.

One of them's dead already.

Now, Sheriff, you know my
pa and brother are innocent.

Deuce gave me a full statement.

Yeah, and then he
left town before the trial.

Didn't much matter.

Sally Byrnes saw it, too.

And you believe her?

Well, the jury did, Joe.

I'm sorry.

Joe...

Hansen's doing a hard
job the best way he can.

Now, time's
getting short, but...

we may still come
out of this right-side-up.

Well, what do you
want us to do now, Pa?

Three things.

Now, first off, talk to
Sally Byrnes again.

And second, help Ed Baxter.

He's putting out a special
edition of the newspaper.

What good's that gonna do?

It'll make people
think a little bit.

And I'd like you to
think of the third thing,

which may be our best chance.

Barney Ogden's taking
a petition around town.

Now, the governor will
grant a stay of execution

if we can wire him the
names of 50 citizens

asking that our case
be reconsidered.

Oh, and Hawkins'
men are in town,

so stay clear of them.

Well...

we won't fool with
the Hawkins boys.

We better get gettin', Little
Joe. Look to your horses first.

I heard you coming into
town fast after a long ride.

A good rancher looks
to his horses first.

Of course, now,
on the other hand,

you hang 'em too high...
and whoosh, you know?

This town's like a graveyard.

What's the matter
with everybody?

I just don't know.

Well, mostly, people come

from miles around to
watch a neck stretching.

They bring a lunch
and make a day of it.

There's some folks around here

kind of fond of
the Cartwrights...

who wishes there
wouldn't be any hanging.

It'll make Hawkins

the biggest rancher
in the territory.

You like our boss, don't you?

Sure... sure.

Just don't like to
see anybody hang.

Sounds to me like you ain't
got no respect for the law.

I'll just have to drag
you out to watch it.

Us and the boss will
be audience enough.

Hey, you know ol' Ben Cartwright
been reading the Good Book?

You don't suppose he's praying

for one of them
miracles, do you?

Shaps, Keeler, take
a look around town.

♪ ♪

Hi. Howdy.

Take care of your horse?

Yeah.

Give him six quarts of grain

and all the hay
and water he wants.

Yes, sir.

Where you from?

Lassiter.

Hey, ain't Lassiter
that town in Kansas

that them raiders
looted and burned?

There a hanging been or coming?

Coming real soon.

You, uh, here to watch?

No, I, uh... I'm
looking for someone.

I don't hardly see, uh, nobody

packing their gun
in their britches.

Well, I'll take
care of your horse.

Yeah.

Hawkins sure has a
lot of hired guns in town.

Yeah.

Easy.

Well, get out of the way.

Sure, kid.

Joe, Joe, Joe!

Just watch who
you're calling kid.

Just take it easy, Joe.

Pick up your saddle.

Joe, you're going to have
to watch that temper, boy.

Yeah, well, Hawkins better
keep his men out of my way.

Hi, uh... you open?

Coffee and stew.

I'll have coffee and stew.

Is something wrong?

No, it's, uh,

just that I've never
seen a lonesomer town.

Well, it's just that...

everyone's afraid to
watch the Cartwrights die.

Not everyone.

That calendar there

says someone's been
counting the days.

Miss Sally.

Ma'am, we'd like to talk to ya

for a minute, if we could.

You see, you're the
only one left in town now

that can save our pa and Adam.

Me and Little Joe found
Deuce Martin dead.

Dead?

Yes'm.

You're the only witness
against them, now.

I told you what
I saw at the trial.

Sally, you lied! Little Joe,

no need for that.

You were hurting the lady.

I didn't mean to
hurt you, Sally.

I'm sorry.

I just wanted you to
tell the truth, that's all.

We're not doing any good here.

Let's go see Barney Ogden.

Ma'am... are you sure that...

that nothin'd cause you
to change your mind?

I'm not gonna lie for you!

You and Sy Hawkins
are the only men

I've seen stand up
to the Cartwrights.

Coffee and stew
are on the house.

Who was killed?

My father.

Ben Cartwright
come here one night

with his son Adam,

and they were boiling mad.

They claimed Pa had
been buying mavericks

stolen off their Ponderosa.

They went out back

where Pa and his hired hand,
Deuce Martin, were cutting wood.

I could hear them arguing.

And then there was a shooting.

Well, if you knew
what it was like

to have someone killed in
such a crazy way like that...

I do know.

I know very well.

Sheriff Hansen sent me.

Give me a nickel if I'd
bring some stew for supper

for his prisoners.

All right, Jimmy.

No trigger.

Yeah, that-that's right.

Looks kinda old.

Well, my-my pa
used it for a long time.

But it's yours now?

Yeah.

Does the town of-of
Lassiter, in Kansas,

mean anything to you?

No.

How do you mean?

Well, have you, uh, heard
of anybody around here

being connected with
the town in any way?

No.

Who would be the biggest
rancher around here?

Ben Cartwright.

I thought everyone knew that.

Ben Cartwright, no,
I didn't know that.

Is he a... is he a tall fella?

He's big.

Why?

Well, he may be a
fella I'm looking for.

Well, don't you
know by the name?

No, I'll know when
I see his face.

Thank you.

Hey, Shaps!

Keeler!

Fred says for everybody

to come in and have a drink.

Terry, Brad, you hear him?

Nothing to worry about.

Everything's under control.

I'll be handling
the final details.

I'll do what I
can to be helpful.

That's very kind of you,

but just how can you help us?

Your throats should be
clean shaved as possible.

The hemp is new, and stiff.

It sometimes pulls
short whiskers.

That can be painful.

Also, your boots
should fit snug,

otherwise, they may fly off.

Oh, we can do without your help.

I believe you mean
well, friend, but...

We thank you.

I understand.

What do you want?

See the older Cartwright.

What for?

It's a personal matter.

Sorry, but you can't...

Go ahead.

"I will call upon the Lord,
who is worthy to be praised;

so shall I be saved
from mine enemies."

What is it?

I thought I might know you.

And I don't.

You seem disappointed.

I am.

You thought the hangman
was doing you a favor?

Yeah.

This man you... you
thought I might be...

you hate him very much.

Yep.

Sorry I troubled you.

Who is it? Me. Hoss.

Pa. Hoss.

Sally Byrnes ain't gonna
change what she had to say.

What about the petition?

Barney Ogden's probably
down in the Miner's Flats.

Little Joe's down
there to fetch him now.

Well, that's good.

They ought to get lots
of names down there.

Yeah, and we're
gonna need 'em, too.

Everybody in town's
holed up in their house.

Hawkins.

Yeah. They want to
stay on his good side

in case he takes
over the territory.

Nobody's taking
over while I'm sheriff.

Hansen, you're
new in office here.

They get rid of Pa,

Hawkins'll start chopping
away at the Ponderosa

till he's more powerful
than he is now.

And if you stay honest,

you'll just have one problem.

You'll be dead.

Better get on with your talking.

Time's running out.

Hoss, I want you to
work on the petition,

and the newspaper...
But no more than that.

What d'ya mean, "no
more than that," Pa?

Adam and I agree.

Do everything you
can inside the law,

but that's all.

If you try to free us by force

Hawkins' men'll slaughter you.

Besides, you'd be coming
up against these lawmen

and be shooting at our friends.

It's no good.

Well, then you don't have
to worry none, Pa. We...

Hoss... I want
you to promise me.

No violence.

Yes, sir.

And try the telegraph office.
Maybe Joe missed Barney.

Maybe he's already got the
names and sent 'em to the governor.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'll-I'll check.

Mr. Cartwright?

Yes?

I had reason to think

that the man I wanted
was around here.

You thought I was him.

Yes, but there were never
two more different men

in the whole world
than you and my man.

And I'm sorry that
I bothered you.

Don't worry yourself.

♪ ♪

Hey, Hoag, only
about an hour to go.

Hawkins better get here soon.

Yeah, he'll sure be
sore if he misses it.

He won't miss it.

You lookin' for something?

Can I have a whiskey, please?

You the stranger been
goin' around, ain't ya?

You know, Fred,

he packs his gun
in his britches.

You reckon he'd bust
a finger taking it out?

Oh, Hawkins don't
want no trouble, Burt.

Not till after the hanging.

Sure, I know.

I'm just wonderin'
about this little fella here.

You know, could be he's
a friend of the Cartwrights.

Are ya, Mister?

Yeah.

Long standing?

Ten, maybe 15 minutes.

Be a short-lived friendship.

Now, us, we're backing
up law and order and justice.

Seeing that there ain't
no slip-ups in that hanging.

Now, you forget that
for just one minute,

and I'm gonna personally
turn you inside out.

You hear good?

You too scared to talk?

Go outside and cool down, Burt.

Hey, uh, Cartwrights got
any friends around here?

Not many.

Watch it, kid!

Sorry, Mister.

What do you got there?

Stew. I got to
take it to the jail.

Hey, Hoagie.

Hey, Hoag, come here.

Yeah.

This kid's taking
stew to the jail.

It must be the
Cartwrights' last supper.

Say, what do you think we
ought to do with it, Hoag?

Well, let's just
flavor it up a little bit.

No! Stop!

Oh, let's just do her
up right, Hoag, huh?

Don't! Please, Mister!

Come here, kid.

No, please, stop, Mister!

Come here, kid!

Get up.

That's enough.

Get him inside!

Move on in!

We'll take care of you
later, after the hanging.

I'll go get more.

It don't matter none.

You just finish what
you started, son.

Yes, sir.

Whose side are you on, anyhow?

Well, I talked to your pa,

and I'm just beginning to
wonder about this hanging.

How come?

Well, it just seems to me

that, uh, the wrong kind of
people are in jail around here.

Well, it's for sure

that my pa and my
brother didn't kill Mr. Byrnes.

Yeah, well, a lot of people
around here think they did.

It couldn't have happened.

Couldn't have happened
the way Sally said it did.

Mr. Byrnes was shot
from out of the dark.

My pa and Adam shot
back trying to save him.

You mean that, uh,
Sally Byrnes lied?

No. I... I don't think
Miss Sally lied. I...

It was dark that night.

I... I think she just
didn't see it right.

What about the
fella that saw it?

Deuce Martin?

He ain't no good.

He could have
been scared out of it

or bought off or anything.

Well, I hope you get
that petition signed.

We will.

We got a special edition
of the paper coming out,

and that's gonna help.

Well, that's good.

They're still talking
about that petition.

Something about the newspaper.

Better cover ourselves.

Hoss?

He ain't with Hawkins.

Yeah, who is he with then?

You fellas, if you don't mind.

Look, Barney ain't
down at the flats.

He hasn't been there.

He didn't even go down there?

No. We got to hurry up and
find him and get that petition.

We haven't got much time left.

Yeah. Let's try his
house. Come on. Right.

If nothing else works,

you fellas planning
on a small revolution?

Yup.

Well, hold off as
long as you can.

What do you think
he's got in mind?

I don't know,

but if it's a revolution,
I got a sneaking hunch

that fella would be
worth a regiment.

Well, we don't
get that petition,

we're gonna need a regiment.

Come on. Yeah.

And when Mr. Hawkins
comes to town,

he'll settle with his men
for treating you that way.

No, he won't. He
won't do nothing.

Well, he can't be held
responsible for what his men do.

As a rule, you can usually tell
a man by the men around him.

Now, Hawkins was forced
to hire those rough men

to stand up to the Cartwrights.

Better pull 'em down, Bert.

I'm busy.

Hawkins won't like folks
reading words like that.

I can't prove the Cartwrights
didn't murder Byrnes,

but the Lord willing, I
can help stop the hanging.

I sure wish we could
change your mind.

Sharp.

Words like you got down here

might get a whole town
thinking the wrong way.

Anybody ever get their arm
caught in one of these things?

Fred? Hmm?

Looks like he's, uh,
melting down some type.

I told you I'm busy!

Sure is hot.

I knew a fella once

who got his face pushed
in some boiling lead.

He sure wasn't a pretty sight.

Hey, Hoss, all the shades
are down in Barney's house.

Yeah. Let's try it anyhow, hmm?

Yeah.

That's funny. Middle of the
day, and the shades down. Yeah.

Try again.

Hey, Barney, what-what are
you doing sitting here in the dark?

I'm... Hoss, I'm sorry.

Where's the petition?

Don't make him feel any
worse than he already does.

He was trying, Hoss.

If you knew what they
said they'd do to him...

So he quit?

So he quit, and he came
back to hide in this house.

A house you
wouldn't have, Barney,

if it hadn't been for my father.

How many names did
you get on it, Barney?

Five.

Five?!

The sheriff and deputy.

The hangman and his helper.

Mr. Baxter.

What about your own?

What about your own, Barney?

They made me scratch it off.

You...

You don't know what they
said they'd do to my daughter.

Where's the petition, Barney?

I'll... Little Joe and
me will get it signed.

Look, we haven't
got time for that now.

Oh, we can try.

It's here.

I'll light the lamp.

Don't bother, Barney.

I think I can see
you better in the dark

than I ever did in
the daylight, anyhow.

Come on, Little Joe.

Jason already asked me.

And you wouldn't sign it?

Nope.

Max, we done tried six houses

on this block, and
nobody'd sign it.

All we need is just a
few names to get the bail.

Max, you don't have
to be scared of nobody.

I ain't scared!

It's just that...

Look, I don't want no part
of it, one way or the other.

Now... Now leave me be.

Look, Max, if we...

All right, let's get the guns.

Not yet.

Come on.

Well, now, the way I look at it,
they was tried fair and square.

And I ain't one to go
against a judge and jury.

Now, Zeke, you
know they're not guilty.

Well, now, I'm sorry, but I
don't know no such thing.

Come on, Joe.

They're still with us.

Thanks a lot, Zeke.

Gil, you've always been
one of our best friends.

It ain't fair of you,
bringing this in here.

Besides, one more
name won't do no good.

Look, we said we'd protect you.

I know you mean that,
and maybe you would.

Every day of the year but one.

Come on, Joe.

My, you sure are working
hard on that petition.

You know, I'll sign it.

My name's Ulysses S. Grant.

I wouldn't if I were you.

Lassiter... thanks.

Saw you headed there.

It's about time for Mr. Baxter's
paper to be out, Little Joe.

Let's go over and see
what's keeping him.

Forget it. There's no
time for that paper now.

If it comes to shooting...

We'll do just like you said.

We'll hold off till the last.

Let's go.

Mr. Baxter?

Mr. Baxter?

He ain't bleeding.

What's wrong with him?

He's been scared half to death.

It's time to get them
guns, Joe. Come on.

We'll return to tonight's
story of Bonanza in a moment.

And now the exciting
conclusion of tonight's story.

Hey, it's the boss.

20 minutes to go.

He sure is spare with his time.

Anything happen I should know?

Oh, nothing much.

They gave up on the petition.

They didn't try anything else?

Well, Baxter was putting
out a newspaper to help them.

But we stopped him.

Oh, how?

A little hot lead.

Good.

He won't forget.

That's all?

Yeah.

What happened
to your hand, Bert?

Ah, it was a stranger.

Nothing to worry about.

You better be right.

Bert. Yes, sir?

Put my horse up and build a
fire out there by the gallows.

We'll be able to see better.

Jay, Hoagie, come on.

Thanks.

Little Joe, Hoss.

Feed box.

Uh, Mr. Jackson?

Huh?

I hate to do this to you, but...

You make one sound I'm
gonna do worse, you hear?

Let's go.

Trouble?

I got there too
late, they told me.

All things being equal, you
got there soon as you could.

Yeah, but I wanted
to do something good

for Mr. Cartwright and Adam.

And I didn't even get
them their last meal on time.

They were tying their
hands up so's to hang them.

Thought it was a
plain business deal.

The sheriff gave you
a nickel for the job.

I don't care about the nickel.

I wanted to do something
for Mr. Cartwright

before they kill him.

I know it's hard, Jimmy,

but that's the
way it's got to be.

They're murderers.

They're not!

Mr. Cartwright gave
me a Christmas horse.

What?

Last year when Ma and Pa
were liking to die with the fever,

Mr. Cartwright came over

and gave me that pretty
piebald mare of mine.

Said it was for Christmas.

And it was in the
middle of the summer!

Now I'll never get
to pay him back.

Now look, you paid
Mr. Cartwright back

and he knows it.

And I know it.

And someday
you're gonna know it.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Now come on, you go on home.

Everything's gonna be all right.

Poor kid.

Just like the Cartwrights.

Buy some little present and
get a lifetime of loyalty for it.

As if they were
kings or something.

With the fire they're building

you'll get a good view
of the hanging from here.

What makes you think
I want a good view?

Don't you?

Then why'd you mark the
calendar towards this day?

Look, I want this to happen.

I don't want to see it happen.

It'll be over in a few minutes.

I've got things to do.

Can't see the hanging from here.

Just hear it.

Hear it?

Yeah, hanging sounds
almost as bad as it looks.

Trap door bangs open.

And there's a loud thump.

There's probably a
few fellas watching

who will give a... a
whoop or a holler.

Is this the, uh, window
you saw the killing from?

Mm-hmm.

It's kind of dusty.

Why don't you... leave me alone?

Because you didn't see it.

Deuce Martin told
you he saw the killing,

and you thought the
Cartwrights were guilty.

Now, they deserve to... hang.

You didn't see it.

Look, I've gone through enough.

I've lost my pa.

I know the Cartwrights
are dying on my word alone.

Now, you just leave me be.

I thought you were a friend.

I am, but I won't
let you do this.

Look, Hawkins told
me what it would be like.

The Cartwrights are rich men.

They'd go free
after killing my pa!

I couldn't let that happen!

So you lied?

I didn't say that.

Now, look, once, just once, I
saw an innocent man hanged.

And I'm still looking
for the men who did it,

and I will be for a long time.

Now, the Cartwrights
didn't kill your pa.

I know that, and someplace,

someplace inside
you, you know that, too.

Oh.

Leave me be.

It's starting.

All right, we better move.

Not yet.

They're walking up the steps.

Can you hear 'em?

Sure you don't want a
hood over your head?

In the Lord, who is
worthy to be praised,

so shall I be
saved... You're right.

I didn't see them.

I couldn't be sure.

Tell 'em.

Go on, tell 'em.

Sheriff Hansen!

Sheriff Hansen!

Sheriff Hansen, I... I lied.

I didn't see them do it.

Stay out of this!

We met before, Mister.

Who are you?

In Lassiter, Kansas.

Remember?

At another hanging party.

Remember?

Remember?

Ooh!

That's enough shooting.

All right.

I'll bet you're glad we
didn't wait till the last minute.

Confounded Cartwrights!

How much do I... I owe you?

Two dollars.

Much obliged.

Lassiter, I...

I guess I'll never
know who killed Pa.

Hanging innocent
men... I... I owe you a...

I want to thank you.

You don't have to thank me.

You did what you
thought you had to do.

And you made it right.

There ain't no way to thank
you for what you've done,

or tell you how we feel.

I know how you feel.

My pa was hanged wrongly.

Why don't you... Why
don't you stay here?

Found the man
you were looking for.

Thank you.

But the men who
did that hanging...

There's more of 'em.

A lot more.

I'll be seeing you.

He's a driven man, Pa.

I sure would hate to be him.

Yeah.

Somebody I'd like
to be even less...

Any one of the
men he's looking for.

Behind the Scenes of The Avenger

The episode omitted Vic Morrow’s character’s real name. People he meets refer to him as “Lassiter” because he claims to be from Lassiter, Kansas.

This episode was the premier for a Vic Morrow-starring NBC series, but the network turned it down.

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

If you’re looking for a fantastic television program to enjoy alone or with family, it’s time to check out Bonanza! The NBC network broadcasted the series from September 1959 to January 1973, running all 14 seasons of the show. Out of 430 episodes, The Avenger is the twenty-sixth.

You can find more about any of the 430 Bonanza episodes here>>