Cardinal Murder Case

Originally Aired: April 19, 1949Philo Vance #41, "Cardinal Murder Case,"Tony Cardinal, a former racket boss turned would-be gentleman, is attempting to transform himself into a respectable member of society with the help of his English butler, Jamesy. Living in luxury with a dozen English-cut suits and carefully learning proper etiquette, Tony is spending money lavishly on his new lifestyle while pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman named Lola. Jamesy patiently coaches his employer on the finer points of proper speech and deportment, though Tony's rough edges still show through his enthusiasm for his new life.When Lola calls to arrange an evening drive, she expresses concern about someone who dislikes Tony intensely—a man named Al Bailey, whom Tony dismisses as a skunk not worth worrying about. Despite Tony's casual attitude toward this potential threat, the mention of an enemy from his criminal past hints at danger lurking beneath the surface of his reformed existence, setting the stage for the trouble that's about to unfold.