The residents of Holcomb, Kansas, cannot find peace until the murderers are brought to justice. A local resident questions Agent Dewey, asking, "Why don't you arrest somebody?’’ and adding, "That's what you get paid for.'' The widespread mistrust and insecurity that grip the town can only be eased by the assurance that the culprits have been caught and punished. At the same time, the fact that the murderers are outsiders sparks hope that they are different from the typical Holcomb residents. The crowd gathered outside the courthouse to see Smith and Hickock is stunned into silence, realizing that the killers are human, just like them.