The lie about Rev. Smith’s death was unnecessary.

And it doesn’t matter to me that that’s how he died in real life. He didn’t have a tumor in real life. Seth Bullock didn’t marry his brother’s widow in real life.

The entire thoroughfare saw him preaching to the oxen. He was clearly in decline. Doc had pronounced his condition terminal.

And most people in Deadwood shrugged at folks getting killed left and right. The idea of some collective suspicion and interrogation of Al and the Doc just doesn’t hold water. People would’ve accepted that he died naturally and buried him in the camp graveyard.

Edited to add: I’m talking about Al telling Bullock that the Reverend’s body was found on the road to Spearfish in season two when he gives Bullock back his gun and badge after their fight.