The Birdy Baskerville Matter

Originally Aired: November 10, 1951 When wealthy retiree Carl Baskerville contacts the Columbia Oil Risk Insurance Company to change the beneficiary on his $500,000 life insurance policy, he claims his recently paroled brother William is out to kill him. Johnny Dollar is dispatched to Long Island to serve as a temporary bodyguard—and to verify if Carl's fears are more than just paranoia. Despite a bizarre letter threatening Carl’s life and a history of betrayal between the brothers, Carl still holds hope for reconciliation. But moments after their meeting, Carl is gunned down while feeding birds in his garden. The only witness? His towering secretary, Collins, who claims he saw William fleeing with a gun. The police think it’s an open-and-shut case—until Dollar discovers the threatening letter has vanished and the timeline doesn’t add up. As the investigation leads Johnny through smoky jazz clubs, a sultry ex-girlfriend, and a staged suicide, he uncovers a scheme soaked in betrayal. The truth behind Carl’s murder is far more twisted than fraternal revenge—it’s a deadly play for money, love, and survival. This gripping tale unravels a dark plot with a deadly twist in this suspenseful episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.