The final Billy Jim Hawkins murder mystery takes place in Washington, DC and Jimmy Stewart's client is Paul Burke who is a campaign manager for US Senator Pernell Roberts and potential presidential candidate. It seems as though seconds after Burke had a confrontation with Drew Pearson like columnist John Larch, Larch is shot to death with his own weapon. Larch made a career of playing very unpleasant people and he runs true to form in this story. He and his column have made him a slew of enemies so there's a nation's capital full of suspects.
I could not buy Paul Burke's noble attitude however. He's willing to go to jail rather than have his candidate exposed to scandal this close to the White House.
But there are plenty of others around and Jimmy Stewart and his cousin Strother Martin plow through them with Martin nearly blinded in an acid attack.
Eventually the right answer comes out in court and it centers on someone Stewart ruled out initially.
A sad and sadly mediocre end to the Hawkins series as part of NBC's murder mystery monthly Sunday night. Probably Stewart could have continued it, but he didn't get back to work until his appearance in The Shootist. The character was taken up somewhat by Andy Griffith when he did Matlock.
I could not buy Paul Burke's noble attitude however. He's willing to go to jail rather than have his candidate exposed to scandal this close to the White House.
But there are plenty of others around and Jimmy Stewart and his cousin Strother Martin plow through them with Martin nearly blinded in an acid attack.
Eventually the right answer comes out in court and it centers on someone Stewart ruled out initially.
A sad and sadly mediocre end to the Hawkins series as part of NBC's murder mystery monthly Sunday night. Probably Stewart could have continued it, but he didn't get back to work until his appearance in The Shootist. The character was taken up somewhat by Andy Griffith when he did Matlock.
