Dr. Joshua McQueen was the owner of a traveling circus sideshow and snake oil salesman. He was the main villain in the two-part episode "The Wild Boy."
About Dr. McQueen[]
McQueen had started his sales career and traveling sideshow a number of years prior to the events of "The Wild Boy." The sideshow included several acts, including that of a deranged little boy billed as the attraction's main event: "The Wild Boy." When the tarp on the cage housing "The Wild Boy" is removed, circus-goers see a feral creature resembling a little boy, about 10 or 11 years old, who jumps around, grabs at people and acts aggressively when provoked (at McQueen's encouragement) ... all for the amusement of his audience, who each pay a dime to see the act. McQueen is sure to also tell his patrons to buy some of his elixir, which he claims can heal any ailment and calm nerves ... it's magic and a miracle, he declares. Between admission to see his exhibits and elixir sales, McQueen becomes a wealthy man.
In the events of "The Wild Boy" – it can safely be assumed there were other "wild boys" beforehand – the titular attraction is actually Matthew Rogers, who was taken by McQueen from an orphanage, where Matthew had been returned after suffered horrific abuse from a foster family. (The foster father had poured lye down Matthew's throat to punish him for an unknown offense, rendering him non-verbal.) McQueen realizes he can exploit the boy's disabilities and, after winning custody of him and becoming his legal guardian, invites him to join his sideshow.
Quickly, McQueen shows his true colors to Matthew and begins abusing him, deciding that he would make the perfect centerpiece of his circus – "The Wild Boy," as it were. Illustrated through nightmares Matthew later suffers, McQueen's treatment is nothing short of sadistic and horrific: He is beaten with a cane, starved and given the same morphine-laced syrup as in the elixir he sells ... and that's just what viewers see.
During a stop in Walnut Grove, Dr. McQueen uses his charisma to enthrall the schoolchildren and get them to laugh at the various acts, including the "Wild Boy" exhibition. However, their teacher, Etta Plum, realizes that this isn't something the kids should be seeing and ushers them back to class. Later that night, Matthew is able to escape his cage and flees toward a farmstead that turns out to be the home of Almonzo and Laura Wilder. Their niece, Jenny, finds Matthew in the barn and, suspecting there is something very wrong with his situation, persuades Laura and Almonzo not to return him to whomever is his guardian. Eventually, Mr. Edwards secretly takes Matthew in, but when Matthew has a nightmare and reacts violently, Dr. Baker agrees to give him a full physical and determines the cause of his being mute (forcibly made to drink lye) and his violent behavior especially after nightmares (the morphine withdrawals).
Meanwhile, Harriet Oleson sees McQueen's elixir as a money maker for the Mercantile she co-owns with her husband, Nels, and, without Nels' consent or knowledge, makes a deal with McQueen to sell the elixir and share the profits. Everyone else in Walnut Grove is by now becoming wary of McQueen, suspecting that he is not the good person he claims to be. Dr. Baker, meanwhile, analyzes the elixir after his examination of Matthew and determines it is nothing more than syrup laced with dangerous amounts of morphine.
Dr. McQueen later finds Matthew missing and, acting as benevolent and caring guardian, pleads for his safe return ... even going so far as to offer a $50 reward – today, more than $1,000 – for his safe return. Nobody is moved by McQueen's fake show of concern ... except the Oleson's daughter, Nancy, who overhears a conversation between Mr. Edwards and town blacksmith John Carter about Matthew. Nancy knows she's got a quick $50 in her hand and goes off to her mother, and Mrs. Oleson quickly contacts McQueen, as they know where to find Matthew. (Everyone else knew, too, including Nels and the Oleson's son, Willie ... but they all had outright refused to share their knowledge to someone they came to distrust and suspected was a vile, evil man.)
McQueen returns to reclaim his charge, much to Matthew's horror and everyone else's. As a custody hearing is scheduled to determine Matthew's fate, Nels intercepts the $50 reward check at the post office and, seeing the Mercantile's stock room full of crates of the elixir, immediately destroys the stock; Nels, after tearing up the bank note, angrily confronts Harriet and Nancy, telling them both point blank that they'd better hope and pray nothing happens to Matthew, because if something does ... .
Also prior to the hearing, Mr. Edwards, Almonzo and John are at the blacksmith shop talking at about strategy when McQueen walks by, gloating that he has the upper hand. Edwards lunges at McQueen, and it's lucky for him that John and Almonzo are (barely) able to restrain him.
At the custody hearing, McQueen brandishes his cane, which causes Matthew to have flashbacks to the beatings and he runs out of the church. Although this seems like a setback, McQueen tries to turn the development into his favor, declaring he is charitable and benevolent, and that he has Matthew's best interests at heart and he will take care of him and help him get over his violent behavior.
Judge Simpson is about to rule in McQueen's favor when, at the last second, Luther – another attraction in McQueen's show and star witness who had earlier testified that McQueen treated Matthew well – turns against McQueen. Luther admits he had committed perjury and was paid to lie about everything, and then exposes McQueen as a liar, fraud and sadistic man who viciously abused Matthew – and many others for many years – and it's those memories that Luther will have to carry the rest of his life. In the end, McQueen's custody claim is dismissed and all custodial and legal rights are revoked, and Simpson furiously warns him and his circus show to leave Walnut Grove – and right now!!! – and never return.
It is suggested by some fans that the court quickly ordered a full investigation into McQueen's activities, and that he was eventually brought to justice for his criminal activities and, with all his assets seized, his circus show was forced to close. Matthew, meanwhile, was allowed to stay with Mr. Edwards ... after Judge Simpson secretly overturns his own ruling that would have made Matthew a ward of the state and thus returned him to the orphanage.
Behind the Scenes[]
Dr. Joshua McQueen was played by Anthony Zerbe.