Episode Details

Originally Aired: December 7, 1958

Gunsmoke #348, "The Grass Asp," presents Matt Dillon with a dangerous situation when a stray bullet from celebrating cowboys strikes Melodia Bastian, wife of local farmer Red Bastian. The shot comes from a group of Lazy T trail drivers whooping through Dodge City's streets, firing their guns in the air. While Doc Adams fights to save Melodia's life, Red vows vengeance against whoever pulled the trigger, making it clear he'll use gun law himself if Marshal Dillon doesn't act fast enough.

Trail boss Carl Willard insists none of his men are responsible, claiming they only fired into the air and that the riders he's worked with for years wouldn't lie to him. But Red refuses to accept this explanation, especially when his wife lies unconscious in Doc's office. Despite Willard's cooperation in allowing Dillon to question every man in his outfit, the investigation hits a wall of silence. With Red threatening to come back to town wearing a gun and the cowboys preparing to defend themselves, Matt finds himself racing against time to uncover the truth before frontier justice turns deadly.