A young Native American man throws Cabot Cove into chaos by laying claim to the land on which the town sits. When a local resident with valuable property is found murdered, all signs point to the town’s supposed new landowner.
Season 4, Episode 10: Indian Giver (November 29, 1987)
Dressed in traditional regalia, Algonquin George Longbow interrupts Mayor Sam Booth’s speech to stake a claim on all of Cabot Cove, citing a 12-generation-old British land grant. Though his claim is verified by history professor Harold Crenshaw and George—a Harvard law graduate—seeks only fair rent, the town panics. When a local developer is murdered with an Algonquin spear, the town assumes George is the killer. After vigilantes assault him, Jessica suspects he is being framed and launches an investigation to prove his innocence.
Who’s in it, outside of Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley and William Windom?
- Theodore Bikel (Professor Harold Crenshaw): An esteemed character actor and folk singer, he lent his gravitas to science fiction milestones including Star Trek: The Next Generation and Babylon 5.
- Heidi Bohay (Donna Crenshaw): An actress known for her television work, she appeared in the 1982 supernatural horror film Superstition.
- Lonny Chapman (Addison ‘Ad’ Langley): A versatile character actor, he appeared in genre classics such as The Witch Who Came from the Sea and the science fiction series The Incredible Hulk.
- Jack Colvin (Harris Atwater): A familiar face to genre fans, he played the relentless reporter Jack McGee on The Incredible Hulk and appeared as a doctor in the horror hit Child’s Play.
- Gary Lockwood (Tom Carpenter): A science fiction legend, he is best known for his iconic roles as the god-like Gary Mitchell in the original Star Trek pilot and the ill-fated Dr. Frank Poole in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- Richard Paul (Mayor Sam Booth): A dedicated character actor known for his comedic timing, he appeared in the science fiction project Space Force.
- Jennifer Salt (Helen Langley): An accomplished actress and writer, she achieved cult status for her chilling lead performance in the Brian De Palma horror-thriller Sisters.
- Charles Siebert (Norman Edmonds): A prolific television actor, he has genre credits including the horror film Blue Sunshine and the science fiction series The Incredible Hulk.
- Bernard White (George Longbow): A talented performer with diverse roles, he appeared in the Matrix sequels as Rama-Kandra and in the science fiction horror film Quarantine.
Smaller roles are played by Otto Felix, Ralph Meyering Jr., Terry Burns, Maggie Kedron, Gerald York, Robert Bakanic, Larry Carr and Rex Pierson.
What happens?
The tranquility of Founders’ Day is interrupted by Algonquin George Longbow, who arrives in full ceremonial attire to assert a claim that echoes through the centuries. He carries a document, supposedly granted by the British in 1858 to Chief Manitoka, which effectively renders the entirety of Cabot Cove his ancestral property.
While the town spirals into a frantic debate over property lines and impending doom—fearing the loss of their homes to a Harvard-educated man who simply wants his due rent—the real tragedy strikes. A local businessman, heavily invested in a controversial resort development project, is found dead, pierced by an Algonquin spear. The town, in its collective panic, is all too eager to pin the crime on the outsider. Naturally, it falls to Jessica to cut through the hysteria and navigate the intersection of historical grievance and cold-blooded modern homicide.
The victim, town drunk Addison Langley, found himself at the center of a much more sinister plot than his public persona suggested. This episode serves as a reminder that even in a place as friendly as Cabot Cove, ancient tensions and modern resentments simmer just beneath the surface. It’s a compelling look at how quickly a community can turn on its own—or on a stranger—when its sense of ownership is threatened.
Who did it?
Addison’s death was a domestic tragedy—murdered by his own wife—though the crime scene was expertly staged to cast suspicion on George Longbow. The tell-tale sign wasn’t the spear, but the faint trace of paint varnish on the victim’s hand, a detail that, in the hands of a sharp observer like Jessica, unravels the entire fabrication.
Who made it?
Directed by Walter Grauman and written by Gerald K. Siegel.
Does Jessica dress up and act stupid? Does she get some?
No. I need this to happen soon.
Was it any good?
I’m happy we’re back in Cabot Cove.
Any trivia?
Dr. Hazlitt says he rents. However, in “Murder in Tempo,” he says it took him 30 years to pay off his house mortgage. What’s the truth?
Give me a reasonable quote:
Jessica Fletcher: Seth Hazlitt, I’ve been meaning to ask you a question. When everyone else was terrified that they were going to lose their homes, why were you as calm as a mountain lake?
Dr. Seth Hazlitt: Well, I’m much too old to get caught up in that sort of mass hysteria. Besides, I rent.
What’s next?
Jessica and her nephew get more than they expect while staying at a posh New York hotel managed by Grady’s old fraternity buddy.
