Murder in the Slave Trade

James Stewart's next case as Billy Jim Hawkins takes him to Chicago where his old co-star from Winchester 73 Stephen McNally dies in a whirlpool bath. It's ruled a homicide and the police take disgruntled and aging linebacker James Luisi is pegged as the killer by the cops.

I have to say that acting honors for the guest cast go to Luisi who is quite touching in his portrayal of a man who in college "majored in football" and now has to worry about a living. McNally offered to keep him around as a glorified gofer something he considers worse than nothing.

McNally treated everyone that way so there is a nice list of suspects. The eventual killer unmasked Perry Mason style in court is not one you would normally suspect.

I'd watch this one for Stewart and Luisi especially where Stewart gives him the logical next step in his life.