Originally Aired: January 25, 1949
Philo Vance #29, "Idol Murder Case," begins with small-time crook Joe Farrell caught red-handed on a breaking and entering charge. Hauled before Sergeant Heath, Farrell insists he has vital information for District Attorney Markham and refuses to talk until the DA arrives. When Markham appears, Farrell offers a tantalizing trade: leniency on his burglary rap in exchange for a tip about the city museum. He reveals that a major collection from a deceased foreign collector is arriving that afternoon, containing statues and artifacts, but one piece isn't what it appears to be.
Though Farrell claims ignorance about the statue's true nature, calling it "junk," he warns Markham that dangerous men in the city want this particular item badly enough to commit murder for it. With the shipment arriving imminently and unknown criminals already circling their target, Markham and Heath face a race against time to identify the mysterious statue and prevent bloodshed at the museum.
