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The Sheriff’s Mistake
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Francis J. Grandon
Cast: Edgar Jones [James Young, the U.S. Secret Service agent], Clara Williams [Nellie, the ranchman’s daughter], Burton L. King [Big Bill]
Lubin Manufacturing Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Siegmund Lubin. Scenario by Geraldine Harrison Grey. / Released 7 November 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Nellie, the daughter of Thos. Bassett, a ranchman, is sent to the village post office to get the mail. On her way she crosses a creek and comes face to face with a handsome stranger who baa just finished watering his horse. He asks her to direct him to Village View. After receiving the desired information he thanks her and rides away. Nellie proceeds to the post office and learns that the stage coach has been held up by a bandit. The description tallies with that of the stranger. She gives the matter no further thought until arriving at home with a letter for her father, which tells him that foreclosure proceedings are about to he instituted against the property for the sum of $850. Quickly her thoughts revert to the stranger. If a reward is offered she might be able to capture him, receive the reward, and the mortgage could he paid. She tells her father of her plan, and both ride to the village in time to see the sheriff and posse start in search of the bandit, and to see the reward of $1,000 posted. She persuades her father to go with her and together they begin a search of the valley. They follow the trail taken by the supposed outlaw and finally come upon him, as the sheriff’s posse is passing on a nearby trail. Two shots fired by Nellie bring them to the scene and the supposed outlaw is locked up in the village jail. The stranger’s protests of innocence struck the breast of Nellie. She determines to sacrifice the reward and help the stranger escape; she rides back to the jail. He tells her of his lost credentials, a letter that will clear him in the eyes of all. She goes over the trail again in search of the missing document and finds it. She also finds the cave of the much-wanted bandit. The letter proves to the sheriff that the stranger is a U.S. Secret Service Agent. Nellie leads them all to the cave of the bandit. He is captured and placed in the hands of the posse. Nellie is assured of the reward and the stranger puts his handcuffs on the pretty ranchman’s daughter and makes her a prisoner for life.
Survival status: Prints exist in the British Film Institute National Archive fim archive; and in the Betzwood Film Archive film archive.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Secret Service
Listing updated: 12 December 2024.
References: Website-Betzwood; Website-IMDb.
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