One Cent Murder Case

Originally Aired: July 12, 1949 Philo Vance #53, "One Cent Murder Case," Dale Leslie bursts into Philo Vance's office with an urgent problem. She's about to sign a Hollywood contract, but Al Baker, owner of a penny arcade on South Street, knows about something shameful from her past and threatens to bleed her dry once she becomes a star. Dale has already told her tough, lovestruck manager Davy Rowland about Baker's threats, and now she fears Rowland will do something violent. She desperately hires Vance to prevent Rowland from confronting Baker. Meanwhile, the nervous Al Baker contacts District Attorney Markham, asking him to warn off the dangerous Rowland. As Baker unpacks new office supplies and discusses his concerns with Markham, tensions escalate between all the parties involved. The case intensifies as Dale prepares to sign her Hollywood contract with Mr. Kraft while Vance and Markham work to prevent a confrontation that could destroy her career before it begins. With a violent manager, a blackmailing penny arcade owner, and a life-changing contract hanging in the balance, murder seems inevitable.