Much of the story told about Sam Bass in the narrative at the beginning is true but in reality he was caught by an inside man as in this show but it was Murphy who was forced to betray him. He died near Round Rock where he is now buried after an incident similar to the one in the show.
Sam Bass died the day after the shootout., 21 July 1878. It was his 27th birthday.
This story was repeated in an episode about Tiburcio Vasquez in season 5. Same plot, different characters... even to the point of betrayal by money wired with date of betrayal as the amount of money sent to Jim's mother, which was really the sheriff.
Guest Stars Chuck Connors, Michael Landon and Ray Teal would all shortly become TV Western Icons. Connors as 'The Rifleman' and Landon and Teal in 'Bonanza'.
Capt. Leander McNelly (Ray Teal) died 4 Sept 1877, the year after he retired from the Rangers, aged 33 years, from tuberculosis. This was the year before Sam Bass (Chuck Connors) was killed. At the time this episode aired, Ray Teal was 55 years old and Chuck Connors was 36; so, both were considerably older than the people they portrayed.