The Voodoo Matter

Originally Aired: August 4, 1953Johnny Dollar #174, "The Voodoo Matter," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Haiti to look into a series of mysterious troubles plaguing farmer Claude Sheldon and his neighbors. Fires have destroyed cane fields, cattle have fallen sick, and farmers are dying under inexplicable circumstances. When Sheldon arrives at Johnny's hotel room to discuss the case, he's already deathly ill, muttering about voodoo curses before collapsing. Though Johnny remains skeptical of supernatural explanations, Sheldon mentions receiving a suspiciously low offer for his farm from Arthur Cotswold, Haiti's wealthiest planter. Before Johnny can learn more, Sheldon dies on his hotel room floor from no apparent cause.Johnny heads to the Sheldon farm, where he meets the imposing seven-foot servant Bimba and discovers that Mrs. Sheldon has also died at the exact same time as her husband. As voodoo drums beat in the distance, Johnny begins investigating Cotswold's possible involvement, but Inspector Georges warns him that challenging such a powerful man could prove dangerous. The inspector makes it clear that crossing Cotswold means facing far-reaching opposition that might cost Johnny more than just his case.