The Coachman Murder Case

Originally Aired: August 31, 1948Philo Vance #8, "The Coachman Murder Case," wealthy industrialist J. Morton Zachary is found murdered in his swimming pool, a fishing rod lying at the edge with its hook attached to his body. The victim, a renowned authority on trout fishing, has a knife in his chest and a coachman fly serving as grim bait. His young wife Grace and magazine editor David Douglas discover the body when Grace returns home from a trip, though their stories about the taxi fare from the station don't quite match up.As Philo Vance arrives to assist District Attorney Markham and Sergeant Heath, complications quickly emerge. Among Zachary's effects is a mysterious shiny key that opens none of his locks, suggesting secrets yet to be uncovered. More troubling still is the revelation that Grace and David were once engaged, and David's appointment to interview Zachary about fly fishing seems suspiciously timed. With both the widow and her former fiancé acting nervously evasive, Vance must untangle their contradictory statements and determine whether this elaborate fishing tableau holds the key to solving the murder.