<P> When Hastings learns about the brothers ' investigations , he kills the sheriff ( Paul Fix ) and frames the Elder brothers for the murder . Then , not content with seeing them go to prison , Hastings arranges an ambush in which Matt is killed and Bud seriously injured . Deputy Ben Latta ( Jeremy Slate ) is not part of the conspiracy , but is shot and killed by Hastings when he decides to aid the Elders . The surviving Elders escape , and going back to town to get medical help for Bud , John and Tom barricade themselves in the smithy . Tom manages to kidnap Hasting 's weak - willed son Dave ( Dennis Hopper ) , although he is seriously injured in the process . Hastings shoots his own boy in an attempt to prevent him from testifying . In the presence of John Elder and the local judge , a wounded Dave manages to relate the tale of his father 's crimes before he dies . John takes up arms and kills Hastings by shooting up a cask of gunpowder inside his own gun store . </P>
<P> When Hastings learns about the brothers ' investigations , he kills the sheriff ( Paul Fix ) and frames the Elder brothers for the murder . Then , not content with seeing them go to prison , Hastings arranges an ambush in which Matt is killed and Bud seriously injured . Deputy Ben Latta ( Jeremy Slate ) is not part of the conspiracy , but is shot and killed by Hastings when he decides to aid the Elders . The surviving Elders escape , and going back to town to get medical help for Bud , John and Tom barricade themselves in the smithy . Tom manages to kidnap Hasting 's weak - willed son Dave ( Dennis Hopper ) , although he is seriously injured in the process . Hastings shoots his own boy in an attempt to prevent him from testifying . In the presence of John Elder and the local judge , a wounded Dave manages to relate the tale of his father 's crimes before he dies . John takes up arms and kills Hastings by shooting up a cask of gunpowder inside his own gun store . </P>
who played the sheriff in the sons of katie elder
who played the sheriff in the sons of katie elder
Paul Fix
Paul Fix