Originally Aired: August 16, 1949
Philo Vance #58, "Johnny a Murder Case,"
Gang leader Johnny A. coldly executes rival mobster Nick Keating with a shotgun blast through a window, then drives to his girlfriend Sonny Belmont's house to say goodbye before she leaves for South America. What Johnny doesn't know is that Nick was Sonny's brother, and she's already gone to District Attorney Markham with information about the killing. Markham learns that Sonny has set a trap, telling him Johnny will return to her place at midnight. He recruits detective Philo Vance to join the stakeout, anticipating an easy arrest.
However, the situation becomes more complicated when Big Eddie Morris, Johnny's chief rival, begins circling the block in his car. At the stroke of midnight, a massive explosion tears through Sonny's house. When the smoke clears, a body identified as Johnny A. is found in the rubble. Vance tracks Sonny down in South America by phone, but something about the entire situation troubles him, and he doubts the case is as simple as it appears.