Ladies from St. Louis

The Segurra Gang robs a bank in Oklahoma, and, with a posse on their tails, subsequently split into two groups. One group, led by the gang leader, Ross Segurra goes one way, while the other three go in another direction.

The other three gang members happen upon a wagon of nuns on their way to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Two of the three see an opportunity to take the nuns' possessions and take advantage of them sexually. (Of course, this being television in the 1960s, the sexual violation is implied.)

Worth Sweeney, the other gang member, wants no part of the horrible actions of his cohorts. A shootout occurs. The two gang members are killed, and Sweeney is badly injured.

The nuns consider Sweeney's act one of divine intervention. They tend to Sweeney's wounds and make their way to Dodge City to seek medical assistance for Sweeney.

The women also discover the money the three gang members were carrying. They choose not to tell anyone in Dodge about the money, since they want to avoid causing trouble for Sweeney.

In Dodge, Doc is able to perform surgery on Sweeney to remove the bullets. The determined, industrious nuns feel Sweeney's injuries are their responsibility, and they volunteer to stay in Dodge to nurse Sweeney back to health.

Matt is faced with having the Segurra Gang in his territory while having Sweeney and the money from the bank robbery right under his nose in Dodge. Sweeney fears Segurra and knows the gang leader will not rest until he finds the money from the bank robbery.

The veteran actress Josephine Hutchinson is outstanding as the Reverend Mother Sister Ellen, leader of the group of nuns. Aneta Corsaut, best known for her role as Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show is the tougher, more cynical Sister Ruth, while Kelly Jean Peters bookends Corsaut's performance as the gentle, somewhat naïve Sister John.

Claude Akins, veteran of numerous Gunsmoke and other Western series, plays Worth Sweeney, an outlaw with at least some modicum of conscience. Henry Darrow is also great as the seething, angry Ross Segurra.

(As a side note, I am always curious why outlaws would follow someone as mean and soulless as the Segurra character is here. He bullies his men, and does not hesitate to kill them when he doubts their trustworthiness. Matt even tells Sister Ellen he "kills for the love of it.")

Divine providence is the overarching theme of this episode. How much of a role does it play in the events that transpire?

Worth Sweeney (Claude Akins) is part of the Segurra Gang that has just rob a back in Kansas City. During the robbery the gang broke up and three riders with Segurra going one way and three riders with Worth, plus the money, going another. They are to meet up later back at the hideout.

During the ride, Worth and his two friends happen up on a wagon filled with nuns. But when the two friends want to take advantage of the nuns, Worth steps in and kills both but not before getting shot himself. The nuns do all they can for him before taking him with them to Dodge for medical help.

But before getting on the trail, the nuns find the stolen money in a saddle bag and know that something is amiss. When they get to Dodge, they are told that a bank had been robbed and they now know that Worth is part of the gang.

But instead of turning the money over to the Marshal, the nuns remember the good Worth did for them and decide to let God intervene in the decision of Worth.

It is not long before Segurra comes riding into Dodge looking for the money. Worth knows that either his life or the nuns are in danger. Worth has two ways to go in this situation- will the nun's prayer work.

Two veteran actors really bring this episode to life. Claude Akins who played the injured, but goodhearted bandit and Josephine Hutchinson that played the older wiser sister. Both were excellent in their parts which makes for an entertaining watch for the viewer. An episode that was better than expected.

This show aired in the year between "The Trouble With Angels" (1966) and the debut of "The Flying Nun" (fall of 1967), when lighthearted nun stories were in vogue.

The setup here is that evidently a wagon load of five nuns are out in their covered wagon traversing the prairie not in a wagon train, with no man to guard and assist them. At the very start of the show, they come to grief as expected.

Totally farfetched stories are not unique to Gunsmoke, and the viewer must suspend a lot more disbelief than is customary. It is similar to the credibility of a story when Miss Kitty and a wagon full of saloon girls set out on their own to tour the West.

Aside from this issue, the show was pleasant and worth watching.

An interesting episode of Gunsmoke. I wonder if it might have been considered as a potential pilot for a series. Strong performance by Josephine Hutchinson as Sister Ellen in charge of her flock. The regular cast of Gunsmoke were secondary to the story.