The evil Jackie Harris
| “ | You're a fool. You're as big a fool as Will and his brother and that foreman. And you know something? You're gonna die just like they did. | „ |
| ~ Jackie Harris betraying Josh Randall and confessing to the murders |
Jackie Harris (Mona Freeman; 1926-2014) was the main villainess from "The Fourth Headstone," episode 1.09 of Wanted: Dead or Alive (airdate November 1, 1958).
Backstory/Introduction[]
Jackie Harris was introduced as a prisoner who town sheriff Sam Gladstone tasked Josh Randall to transport for trial. As Gladstone revealed, Jackie was married to Will Backer, who operated a farm with his brother, Arthur Backer. At some point, Jackie engaged in an affair with the farm's foreman, Henry Thompson, and after Will caught the pair together, Jackie shot her husband to death, and also killed Arthur when he attempted to help. She also shot and killed Henry as well, as he had witnessed both of the previous murders.
Events[]
Jackie holding Josh Randall at gunpoint
Gladstone informed Josh that Henry identified Jackie as the killer before his death, and after arriving, Jackie claimed that she was innocent and would be acquitted on trial. As the pair retired for the evening, Jackie claimed to Josh that Henry grabbed her and he was shot by Will in an attempt to save her. She also claimed that Henry shot and killed both brothers before dying of his injuries, though Josh stated that Jackie would have trouble convincing others of her claims. Josh tied Jackie's hands together before they slept; though the following day saw Jackie display a helpful and friendly demeanor, with her biggest act being retrieving Josh's horse after it ran off.
Josh informed Jackie that she could have used the opportunity to escape, only for Jackie to state that if she did, she couldn't prove her innocence. Later that evening, Jackie attempted to convince Josh to run away with her, giving Josh until the following morning for him to make a decision. When morning came, Jackie asked Josh what his decision was, only for Josh to reply that he would continue his duty and turn her in, leading to Jackie grabbing Josh's rifle and pointing it at him. The villainess stated that she had no intentions of hanging, and in addition, the evil Jackie scoffed at Josh and boldly confessed to the murders, while adding that she only used Josh to help her get past a dangerous area.
Jackie also informed Josh that she would kill him due to the fact that she didn't need Josh anymore, only to find out that the rifle wasn't loaded. In actuality, Josh anticipated Jackie's heel turn and unloaded the rifle, while reminding the villainess that she grabbed the wrong gun. Stunned over being defeated, Jackie was turned in by Josh, and she was later executed (off-screen).
Trivia[]
- Mona Freeman later appeared on Johnny Ringo as the evil Marilyn Barber, and on Thriller as murderess Sylvia Walsh.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
09. The Fourth Headstone