The Vigilantes

Originally Aired: November 11, 1938 The Lone Ranger #904, "The Vigilantes," finds the town of Loganville gripped by both hope and terror. When a mysterious group of hooded vigilantes appears and begins driving out the outlaws who have plagued the territory, the townspeople celebrate their newfound safety. However, the vigilantes, led by the cunning Mark Delaney, soon realize the power they've gained. Rather than continuing to serve justice, they begin targeting honest ranchers like Jim Dwyer and Dave Hanford, falsely accusing them of being rustlers and forcing them to sell their prosperous properties at ruinous prices or flee within twenty-four hours. When the Lone Ranger and Tonto encounter Dave Hanford frantically riding his horse to exhaustion, they learn the truth about the vigilantes' corruption. Dave reveals that these supposed defenders of justice are actually thieves who use their masks and reputation to intimidate honest citizens and steal their land. The desperate rancher explains how the vigilantes have transformed from heroes into the very criminals they once fought, and now the Lone Ranger must find a way to expose this band of hooded outlaws before more innocent people lose everything.