Originally Aired: May 2, 1950
In Philo Vance #95, "Rooftop Murder Case," what begins as a simple larceny investigation transforms into a murder case when the accused, Joe Somer, is found dead on the street below his rooftop. District Attorney Markham and Philo Vance had been on their way to question Somer about charges of grand larceny brought by his business partner, Alfred Dale, when they arrive to find police already on the scene. An apparent suicide note seems to close the case before it begins, but Vance suspects something more sinister is at play. When Vance carefully examines the rooftop where Somer died, testing various pens and questioning both the widow Mrs. Somer and the accusatory partner Dale, his investigation strikes a nerve with someone dangerous.
The case takes a violent turn when an unknown assailant fires a shot at Vance through his window, confirming his suspicions that Joe Somer was murdered. As the investigation deepens, complicated relationships emerge involving Mrs. Somer, a mysterious man named Tony, and a woman named Lila, all tangled in a web of insurance money, romantic entanglements, and conflicting motives that point toward a carefully orchestrated killing disguised as suicide.