Originally Aired: September 29, 1953
Johnny Dollar #182, "The Amita Buddha Matter,"
Johnny Dollar flies to Los Angeles to investigate what initially appears to be a tragic house fire that claimed the life of William McEdwards. However, Beverly Hills Police Chief Anderson reveals a disturbing truth: McEdwards was murdered, stabbed and struck with a severe skull fracture before the fire was set to cover up the crime. Dollar interviews the victim's young widow, who had been married only six months. She explains that she was in Pasadena on the evening of the murder, having taken an antique Chinese Buddha to their friend Charlie Wilkins for appraisal. The statue was a belated wedding gift from Bill's father, John McEdwards, who discovered it during a film production trip to Korea.
Dollar's investigation leads him to the elder McEdwards' estate, where he's greeted by four giant Great Danes guarding the property. As Dollar begins questioning the victim's father about the mysterious Buddha statue and the circumstances surrounding his son's death, the case grows more complex, with the rare oriental artifact emerging as a potential key to understanding why someone would commit murder.

Originally Aired: September 22, 1953
Johnny Dollar #181, "The William Post Matter," Johnny Dollar heads to New York City when his boss Ray Kemper informs him that an insured client, Mrs. Teresa Post, has been murdered. The wealthy banker's wife was found stabbed to death in her eighth-floor apartment by private detective Paul Sachs and her lawyer George Simon, who had both arrived for an evening appointment. The couple had separated just three days earlier after Teresa discovered her husband William's affair, and she was preparing to file for divorce. Lieutenant Roseman of the Fifth Precinct suspects William Post, despite his alibi from his mistress Jane Hughes, because the robbery appears staged—a cloth coat was stolen while an expensive mink remained untouched.
Dollar begins interviewing the key players in the case. He meets the unsavory Paul Sachs, who had been hired to gather evidence of William Post's infidelity and displays a disturbingly mercenary attitude about his dead client. Next, Dollar speaks with the more refined George Simon, who confirms he spoke with Teresa that afternoon and found her body alongside Sachs after she failed to appear for their crucial meeting. As Dollar investigates the suspicious circumstances and questionable alibis, he must determine whether this is truly a husband's crime of passion or something more complex.

Originally Aired: September 8, 1953
Johnny Dollar #179, "The Lester Matson Matter," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is assigned to investigate a suspicious fire that destroyed the Matson plastics factory in New York. Philip James briefs him on the $700,000 claim, and the police have already ruled out accident—evidence points to arson involving high octane fuel. Lieutenant Ridgway at New York headquarters gives Johnny an intriguing lead: while factory owner Lester Matson has an airtight alibi and no apparent motive, the detective senses the successful businessman is hiding something and seems frightened about what he knows.
When Johnny visits the Matson estate in Jersey, he meets Lester's charming daughter Christine before sitting down with her father. The conversation grows tense as Matson becomes defensive and evasive. While insisting the fire must have been an accident, he shows unusual concern about whether it was deliberately set, fixating on the terrifying possibility of a pyromaniac. His nervous speculation about firebugs and what could have happened during working hours only deepens Johnny's suspicion that Matson knows more about the blaze than he's willing to admit.

Originally Aired: September 1, 1953
Johnny Dollar #178, "The Stanley Price Matter,"
Johnny Dollar takes on a perplexing case when the New York police confiscate $100,000 worth of rare gems hidden in a water pipe. The jewels may belong to one of his company's European clients who was robbed three months earlier, but they've been removed from their settings and recut, making positive identification nearly impossible. The discovery comes with a murder: Robert Wells was shot twice in the head after a mysterious tipster named Stanley Price called the police about the jewels. Wells' widow claims the gems are rightfully hers and denies any knowledge of how they ended up hidden in her apartment, while Price has vanished without a trace.
Dollar begins tracking down the elusive Stanley Price, a small-time hood and bookmaker who recently skipped out on debts around town. His investigation leads him from police headquarters to Greenwich Village and finally to the waterfront, where he learns that Price had been renting a fishing boat despite having no apparent fishing skills. As Dollar follows the trail of this suspicious "fisherman" with a commercial license, he must unravel how an international jewel heist, a murder, and a disappearing bookie all connect.

Originally Aired: August 25, 1953
Johnny Dollar #177, "The Nelson Matter," Johnny travels to New York to investigate the death of Carl Nelson, a small-time hoodlum with a long criminal record who was shot to death. The beneficiary of Nelson's $10,000 insurance policy is a woman named Maud Gilkerson, and she's disappeared. Lieutenant Korchak of the 11th Precinct believes Maud knows something about the killing and suspects Nelson's boss, big-time criminal Ellis Hartche, may have ordered the hit. After checking in with Korchak, Johnny seeks out an old acquaintance, Wilbur Truitt, a colorful skid row regular who speaks in flowery language and survives on handouts and information trading.
For the price of two bottles, Wilbur agrees to locate Maud and discovers she's terrified for her life and needs money to flee the country. She promises to reveal valuable information in exchange for help. Just as Johnny prepares to meet her at a River Street address, two menacing thugs appear at his hotel room door. When Johnny deflects their questions with wisecracks, the situation quickly turns violent, suggesting that powerful forces want to keep him away from Maud Gilkerson and whatever secrets she holds.

Originally Aired: August 18, 1953
Johnny Dollar #176, "The Isabel James Matter The Kimball Matter,"
Johnny Dollar travels to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to investigate the murder of Isabel James, a woman insured by his company for ten thousand dollars. Upon arrival, he meets with Captain Clifford Kissig, who reveals a disturbing pattern: Isabel is the fourth victim in three weeks, all with their throats cut, apparently by a straight razor. The police are stumped, without witnesses or leads, and the city is gripped by fear of what appears to be a serial killer. Johnny visits the beneficiary, Isabel's uncle Morley Parrish, a weathered farmer living outside Dawson who offers more homemade whiskey than useful information about his estranged niece.
The investigation takes a turn when Captain Kissig calls Johnny back to the station. Police have arrested a suspect named Alvin Story, who was caught following a young woman on the street. When she screamed, he fled, and officers later found him carrying a straight razor. While Story insists he was merely taking a walk, Kissig has a hunch they've found their killer. Johnny hurries to the station to question the suspect and determine whether this break in the case will finally stop the killing spree terrorizing Tulsa.

Originally Aired: August 11, 1953
Johnny Dollar #175, "The Nancy Shaw Matter," Johnny Dollar receives an intriguing assignment from Philip Martin to investigate the theft of $100,000 in jewels from Nancy Shaw, a major movie star. Dollar flies to Los Angeles and meets with Sergeant James Dodd of the Santa Monica Police, who reveals this is the fourth robbery in a series with the same MO. The thief always strikes when the maid is off duty and the family is out, suggesting inside knowledge. Each victim has been wealthy, with two connected to the film industry, and none of the stolen goods have surfaced yet.
Dollar heads to Nancy Shaw's beautiful Malibu beach house, where the glamorous star greets him in a white sun suit. As they discuss the case over drinks, the conversation shifts from the stolen jewels to more personal territory. Nancy changes into a red bathing suit and invites Johnny to join her on the beach, where their professional relationship begins to blur. They talk about building castles, both literal and metaphorical, as Johnny finds himself increasingly drawn to his charming client while trying to maintain focus on recovering her stolen jewelry.

Originally Aired: August 4, 1953
Johnny Dollar #174, "The Voodoo Matter," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Haiti to look into a series of mysterious troubles plaguing farmer Claude Sheldon and his neighbors. Fires have destroyed cane fields, cattle have fallen sick, and farmers are dying under inexplicable circumstances. When Sheldon arrives at Johnny's hotel room to discuss the case, he's already deathly ill, muttering about voodoo curses before collapsing. Though Johnny remains skeptical of supernatural explanations, Sheldon mentions receiving a suspiciously low offer for his farm from Arthur Cotswold, Haiti's wealthiest planter. Before Johnny can learn more, Sheldon dies on his hotel room floor from no apparent cause.
Johnny heads to the Sheldon farm, where he meets the imposing seven-foot servant Bimba and discovers that Mrs. Sheldon has also died at the exact same time as her husband. As voodoo drums beat in the distance, Johnny begins investigating Cotswold's possible involvement, but Inspector Georges warns him that challenging such a powerful man could prove dangerous. The inspector makes it clear that crossing Cotswold means facing far-reaching opposition that might cost Johnny more than just his case.

Originally Aired: July 28, 1953
Johnny Dollar #173, "The James Forbes Matter," Johnny Dollar receives an assignment from Roger Stern to investigate the death of wealthy textile magnate James Forbes, who apparently fell from a 110-foot cliff during his nightly walk. Lieutenant Parkhill of the Fifth Precinct is treating it as an accident—Forbes was a successful businessman in good health with no apparent reason for suicide, and his wife was home with four servants when he died. However, the substantial half-million dollar insurance policy warrants a closer look.
When Dollar visits the Forbes estate to interview the widow, she insists her husband's death was a simple accident and that their marriage was happy. However, after viewing the cliff where Forbes died, butler William approaches Dollar with disturbing information. Despite ten years of loyal service, William has grown suspicious based on several months of odd behavior—particularly affectionate phone calls Mrs. Forbes made to someone other than her husband, extended unexplained absences when Forbes traveled, and a suspicious visit from Mrs. Weatherwax, whom Mrs. Forbes claimed to be visiting. What appeared to be a tragic accident may have a more sinister explanation.

Originally Aired: July 21, 1953
Johnny Dollar #172, "The Black Doll Matter,"
Johnny Dollar travels to Los Angeles to investigate the murder of Judith Thompson, a young woman shot to death in her apartment. The killing appears straightforward but puzzling - someone entered through the back door and shot her once in the chest with a .38, yet nothing was stolen. Working alongside Lieutenant Brickford of the Central Division Homicide, Johnny begins interviewing the people in Judith's life, including her girlfriends and acquaintances Mr. and Mrs. Lyon.
The investigation leads them to Timkin Aircraft, where they question William Carnes, a test pilot who had been dating Judith for about two weeks. After watching Carnes fly an impressive demonstration of the experimental XR-200 jet, Johnny and Brickford confront him about his whereabouts on the night of the murder. Carnes initially lies about his alibi, claiming he stayed home alone, but eventually admits he took Judith out that evening. His reason for lying adds a complicating wrinkle to the case - he's married and separated, hoping for reconciliation, and fears being connected to a murder investigation will destroy any chance of saving his marriage.