Originally Aired: November 23, 1948
Philo Vance #20, "Tree Trunk Murder Case," finds the detective and District Attorney Markham heading to the peaceful lumber town of Northville for a much-needed vacation weekend. As they board the train, Markham expresses relief that no murder cases will interrupt their fishing trip, while Vance remains characteristically skeptical about finding such tranquility. Meanwhile, in Northville's logging operation, tensions simmer between mill owner Bill Avery and his workers, particularly Frank and Johnny. Bill's romantic entanglement with Doris becomes a flashpoint when her protective brother Johnny confronts him about his refusal to marry her after five years of courtship.
The situation turns deadly when Bill Avery is found crushed beneath a fallen tree at the logging site. While the scene initially appears to be a tragic accident, Frank and Johnny quickly realize something more sinister is at play. Their cryptic exchange suggests they know the truth but intend to keep it hidden. As Vance and Markham arrive in the seemingly quiet town, they remain blissfully unaware that their peaceful vacation is about to become entangled in a carefully concealed murder in the lumber camps.
