Originally Aired: February 29, 1956
Johnny Dollar #338, "The Fathom Five Matter Ep 3," Johnny meets with Deputy District Attorney Barney Wilson to compare theories about the mysterious burning and sinking of the cruiser Fathom V. Wilson is convinced it's murder, believing that young Danny Haynes killed his employer William Markey to pursue Markey's attractive wife. According to Wilson's theory, Haynes took Markey out on the boat, knocked him unconscious during a confrontation, threw him overboard, then deliberately scuttled the vessel to cover his tracks. Wilson plans to arrest and interrogate Haynes until he breaks down and confesses.
Johnny presents a starkly different theory based on evidence from New York investigators. He's discovered that Markey was financially ruined despite appearing prosperous, making the seventy-five thousand dollar life insurance policy extremely convenient. Johnny believes this is an elaborate insurance fraud, with Markey faking his own death by swimming ashore in the fog while Haynes innocently departed in the dinghy. Mrs. Markey's controlled demeanor and the suspicious absence of Markey's body support Johnny's suspicions. When Johnny requests a photograph of the supposedly deceased man, Mrs. Markey's hesitant response only deepens his doubts.