Outlaws
Ballad for a Badman

Chad Burns:  Cliff Robertson
Julie Kittrick:  Pat Breslin
Rose Dabney:  Madlyn Rhue
Teleplay by  Corey Wilber

Oklahoma Territory.  Land of new settlers, land of outlaws.  Frank Caine is appointed Chief United States Marshal by President Grover Cleveland, and with his two deputies, Will Foreman and Heck Martin, they set out to bring law and order to the land.   One of the men they want is Chad Burns, train robber.  Unfortunately, Burns is a modern-day Robin Hood, and his friends protect him.  After one particular train robbery, one of the victims makes mention to the marshals that they had "better pick up that fella quick before he steals one of you lawmen right out from under those fancy badges you're wearing."

Heck Martin knows Chad Burns as a man who races horses, "the nicest fella you'd ever want to meet."  He has a hard time believing that Burns is an outlaw, but he goes with Will Foreman to Leaning Tree to check into Burns and his activities.  One thing the deputies discover is that Burns has no enemies in town.  No one will believe anything wrong about him.  It is only after he kills one of his wounded buddies that the town begins to wise up.

Chad climbed upon his racing mare
And kissed his gal goodbye
Said, see you soon my darling
So don't you dare to cry

The bank in Petrie's full of gold
From poor folks took away
I'm riding out to Petrie town
To make that banker pay

Chad Burns is a loyal man
A faithful friend and true
If you call Chad Burns partner
He'll lay down and die for you

Oh, the young and old all loved him
Chad Burns so brave and good
He robbed the rich to feed the poor
Just like Robin Hood.

He was the greatest hero
In all the old Southwest
When names are called up yonder
Chad Burns will head the rest.

The dirty turncoats took him
Upon his wedding day
And everyone who loved him cried
To see him led away.

Hang down your heads, you cowards
You dirty sons of guns
You're gonna hang a hero
And his name is brave Chad Burns.

Back to Episode Guide