"Billy the Kid" is a compelling episode of the radio series Gunsmoke that takes place in Dodge City. The story begins when Clay Richards, a wanted bank robber and murderer, is found dead near a river by a German immigrant farmer named Ziggler. While Ziggler becomes the prime suspect, the plot thickens when the town doctor reveals Clay was killed with a Barlow knife, not a gun. Meanwhile, Clay's brother Adam stirs up mob violence against both Ziggler and Marshal Matt Dillon, accusing Dillon of being involved with Clay's widow Francie. The tension builds as Dillon must protect Ziggler while maintaining order in an increasingly hostile town. A subplot involves a young boy who idolizes gunfighters, allowing Dillon to demonstrate the harsh realities of frontier violence. The episode ends with Dillon successfully dispersing the mob, though questions about Clay's death remain unanswered, highlighting the complex nature of justice in the Old West. The episode effectively explores themes of prejudice, mob mentality, justice, and the burden of law enforcement in the frontier era, all while maintaining the dramatic tension and authenticity that made Gunsmoke a landmark Western series.