Bonanza A Hot Day For A Hanging

Bonanza - Episode 104 - A Hot Day for a Hanging - While making a payment delivery, Hoss is wrongfully accused of being a bank robber with the money being his loot.

A Hot Day for a Hanging
Director: William F. Claxton
Writers: Preston Wood, Elliott Arnold
Stars: Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker
Genre: Western
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 14 October 1962 USA
Filming Locations: Stage 17, Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Storyline:
On behalf of his father Ben Cartwright, Hoss delivers a large sum of money to the town of Dutchman Flats. Upon his arrival, however, Hoss is arrested by Sheriff Stedman (Denver Pyle) on a charge of bank robbery. Stedman knows that Hoss is innocent, but he's anxious to prove his worth to the townspeople. Stedman's plan goes horribly awry when the angry citizens form a lynch mob.

Reviews:
"While Lorne Greene is waiting for $12,000.00 in cash at a land office being delivered by Dan Blocker, Hoss has been arrested by Sheriff Denver Pyle in a nearby town when he suspects the money could be part of loot from a recent bank robbery.

There's murder involved here also as banker Roy Roberts's son-in-law was killed and the only description they have is the robber was a big fellow, Easy to see why this would be hung on Dan Blocker.

Pyle is a man not up to the job and won't let Blocker go even after he thinks he just might be innocent. A lynch mob is brewing and stoking the fires there is the widow of the deceased, Olive Sturgess. It's a recipe for the tragedy that unfolds.

Kudos going out to Olive Sturgess for a great performance as the widow whose grief is the catalyst for the events unfolding." Written by bkoganbing on IMDb.com

"Here is another episode that involves one of the Cartwright boys being accused of a murder that he did not commit. This time the character is Hoss when he is arrest outside of a small town that recently had a bank robbery that involved the killing of Ed Wilson, a respected town person.

One of the local drunks is duped into fingering Hoss for the killing. And this sets off the townsfolk wanting a lynching instead of waiting for a trial.

The local sheriff, played by Denver Pyle, is not the most popular guy in town until the townsfolk believe he has captured Ed's murderer. The sheriff likes his new fame and refuses to send out a telegram that would prove Hoss's innocents. But soon he realizes that he can no longer control his town as they demand a lynching with or without any evidence.

This is again a very predictable and repeated episode. This is played out again and again during the entire series of 'Bonanza'. Without needing a spoiler we all know that the last five minutes will produce some action that could possibly save Hoss from hanging.