Well, since Matt was still alive, there could be only one of two results:

1. Matt had to kill the gunfighter.
2. Gunfighter taken into custody.

Unless someone else in town took care of him before Matt and Chester got back to town.

The point is that this is perhaps the only episode that does not explicitly resolve the situation clearly. I wonder if they received criticism for that, and never did it again. (I.e., the production code tends to require clear justice for the criminal.)

Maybe they just felt there was no need to show the results this one time. Since the series kept going with Dillon as the main character, we know the gunman has been dealt with in some way. Fatally or not.

@Moon_Doggie said:

The point is that this is perhaps the only episode that does not explicitly resolve the situation clearly. I wonder if they received criticism for that, and never did it again. (I.e., the production code tends to require clear justice for the criminal.)

**** WARNING: SPOILERS ****

Later on there was another episode (season 4, episode 26, "The Coward") in which Matt is feeling jumpy, which causes him to accidentally shoot and kill an innocent man. At first I was puzzled that this episode survived the production code guys. But I guess there was some sort of justice because the meddler that caused Dillon to get jumpy was forced to wander the West for the rest of his life w/the label of "coward" on him for twice attempting to goad someone else into trying to kill Dillon instead of doing it himself.

It still bothered me because, after all, Dillon did kill a completely innocent man and suffered no legal consequences at all. It just seemed strange and troubling that there wasn't even an inquest.

@pt100 said:

@Moon_Doggie said:

The point is that this is perhaps the only episode that does not explicitly resolve the situation clearly. I wonder if they received criticism for that, and never did it again. (I.e., the production code tends to require clear justice for the criminal.)

**** WARNING: SPOILERS ****

Later on there was another episode (season 4, episode 26, "The Coward") in which Matt is feeling jumpy, which causes him to accidentally shoot and kill an innocent man. At first I was puzzled that this episode survived the production code guys. But I guess there was some sort of justice because the meddler that caused Dillon to get jumpy was forced to wander the West for the rest of his life w/the label of "coward" on him for twice attempting to goad someone else into trying to kill Dillon instead of doing it himself.

It still bothered me because, after all, Dillon did kill a completely innocent man and suffered no legal consequences at all. It just seemed strange and troubling that there wasn't even an inquest.

Now that you mention it, I do recall this episode, and it was unsettling to me also. There were several where the plot resolution seemed unsatisfying, but this one had perhaps the weirdest outcome.