Matlock Season 4, Episode 23: The Blackmailer

The Hunting Party (1)

Spencer Hamilton came to Manteo, North Carolina, as soon as he could to locate the man who killed his brother, Frank, in a supposed duck-hunting accident. When Ryan Bartell (the shooter) is found dead, Matlock heads to North Carolina to defend Hamilton, and finds an unlikely ally in local deputy Conrad McMasters.

The Hunting Party (2)

Spencer Hamilton came to Manteo, North Carolina, as soon as he could to locate the man who killed his brother, Frank, in a supposed duck-hunting accident. When Ryan Bartell (the shooter) is found dead, Matlock heads to North Carolina to defend Hamilton, and finds an unlikely ally in local deputy Conrad McMasters.

The Good Boy

After her husband's death she never thought she'd love again, but it Bonnie soon found her future with Cal Ritter. The only problem is that her son, Tony Morgen, hates Cal. When Tony kills Cal and frames his mother for her murder, Matlock takes the case to prove that Bonnie is innocent, but to prove her innocence, he will have to destroy her son.

The Best Seller

When Elizabeth, a friend of famous novelist Cynthia Slayton, is found dead after taking Cynthia's prescribed allergy medication, suspicion falls on Cynthia's long-suffering husband Philip, a friend of Julie's. While trying to clear his name, Julie realises that not everything is as it seems in the Slayton house.

60 min

The Ex

Julie heads to Baltimore to defend a man accused of killing the newspaper editor who dragged his name through the mud. Matlock comes to town to help her because Conrad is busy on another case, and helps Julie out when the prosecutor, who just happens to be her ex-husband, does whatever he can to trip Julie up.

The Clown

Matlock agrees to defend aging clown Homer Fleming after he's charged with the murder of his long-time partner, Simon. After asking Conrad to go undercover as a roustabout at the circus, Matlock starts to realise that everyone had a very good reason to hate Simon Le Simple.

The Star

Catherine McKay is an aging prima donna who only had one hit movie in her career. When she's found dead, stabbed in the chest with the knife that made her famous, suspicion lands on Noel Bishop, the horror film director that wanted her off his picture.

The Con Man

After he's conned by a group of con men, Brian Davis is accused of murdering one of them. Matlock agrees to take on the case, and while Michelle tries to get close to one of the remaining con artists, Matlock tries to prove that a previous scheme is responsible for the current predicament.

The Prisoner (1)

When a prison guard is accused of murder, Matlock actually goes into the prison itself to defend the man.

The Prisoner (2)

While Matlock finds the weapon inside the prison, Conrad works on the outside to clear the guard and keep Matlock safe.

60 min

The Fugitive

Matlock takes the case of Drew Carey, a young man he has known since childhood, who is accused of murdering his uncle in a fit of drunken rage. Unfortunately, Drew has grown up into a spoiled, self-centered young man who refuses to listen to anything Matlock tells him and is determined to prove that the killer is his uncle's wife Valerie who was much younger than her husband and was having an affair with a construction worker. Despite everyone trying to tell Matlock that Drew is no good, he is convinced that somewhere inside is the sweet boy he once knew, and he truly believes that Drew is innocent.

The Buddies

After an old friend from college dies, Matlock has to investigate three college chums on the charge of murdering a hitchhiker thirty years earlier.

The Scrooge

When a scrooge of a store owner is accused of murdering his partner for being 'good' at Christmas, Matlock agrees to take the case, but Steven Abbott is furious when part of Matlock's fee involves Abbott having to be a 'good' guy.

60 min

The Witness

Sandra Townsend is senior counsel with Drexel, Harris and Townsend. But when she's off work she likes to let her hair down and go to the bars. When her lover threatens to expose her nightlife to her bosses, she murders him. Michelle takes the case when Matlock's former paperboy Jimmy Newton is arrested for murder (Matlock's off to California), but soon realises that Sandra, who is supposed to be the star witness, is really the killer. The problem is that Sandra Townsend is a former classmate and good friend, and Michelle just doesn't want to believe that she's lying.

60 min

The Student

Matlock goes back to school for a little more education, and while there, one of his students is accused of murdering the professor she was having an affair with. Matlock soon learns that love wasn't the motive; cheating on tests was.

The Talk Show

When talk show host Dan Galloway is murdered after publicly humiliating three woman on the air and firing his executive producer, there is no shortage of suspects. Nearly everyone who ever met the man wanted him dead, but it's up to Matlock to prove whether Marla, Leanne or Katherine committed the crime as he tries to prove that his own client, Lisa, did not.

The Victim

Matlock tries to prove that someone other than his client had a motive to murder his lover. His best bet? The victim's paraplegic husband.

The Kidnapper

When Matlock is kidnapped, Michelle and Conrad go through Ben's old cases to try to figure out who is holding him hostage.

The Pro

Matlock has to defend an arrogant young tennis professional (Dave Travis) against a charge of murdering his rival on and off the court (Victor Tomassio).

The Informer (1)

When Sam Chandler is found murdered, his lawyer David O'Malley is the prime suspect...in part because John was sleeping with David's wife.

60 min

The Informer (2)

With Angela's help, Conrad tries to track down an informer they believe holds the key to Sam Chandler's murder.

The D.A.

Julie becomes the target of a witness with psychological problems, leaving Matlock and Conrad to learn who is threatening her, and why.

60 min

The Cookie Monster

When cookie maker Katie White announces her plans to take over a number of smaller baking companies, any one of them could be the killer. After she dies from an allergic reaction to hazel nuts, Matlock defends cookie maker Bobby.