S1E6: Short Fuse

Brief Summary:

In Short Fuse (Season 1, Episode 6), Columbo faces off against a slick, eccentric genius named Roger Stanford (played by Roddy McDowall), the heir to a chemical company. When Roger learns that his uncle, David Buckner, plans to sell the family business—against Roger’s wishes—he devises a devious plan. He rigs a box of cigars with a hidden explosive and gives it to his uncle, who dies in a fiery car explosion shortly after lighting one. Columbo is called in, and though Roger plays the part of the grieving, mischievous nephew, Columbo quickly senses something is off. As always, it’s not long before the Lieutenant starts digging into the psychology and the details—and sets a trap worthy of the killer’s own cleverness.

Clues and Analysis of the Investigation

Key Clue 1: The Cigar Box

Roger gives his uncle a gift box of cigars before his trip. Columbo later discovers that the explosion was triggered when a cigar was removed—suggesting it was part of the murder weapon.

Columbo is curious from the start: Why did the uncle leave so suddenly, and why would a simple car accident result in such a massive explosion?

Key Clue 2: The Car Switch

Originally, the plan was for the uncle to travel with Everett Logan (the company’s president), but Roger manipulates the situation so only his uncle ends up in the car. This switch—engineered by Roger—is one of the first red flags.

Columbo doesn’t miss that the target of the explosion was very specific. The killer needed to know who would be in the car.

Key Clue 3: Roger’s Unusual Behavior

Roger is playful, smug, and overly cooperative. He even jokes with Columbo and seems to treat the investigation like a game. But Columbo, ever patient, uses this to his advantage.

Roger’s flippancy and eagerness to "help" make Columbo suspicious. Why is someone so carefree when their uncle has just died?

Key Clue 4: The Final Trap – The Elevator Ride

In the end, Columbo sets up a brilliant trap. He invites Roger to demonstrate how the cigar box works, claiming they found a similar one in the factory. When Roger sees the box and assumes it's the murder weapon (with the same mechanism), he panics. But Columbo has already confirmed that only the killer could know how that box worked.

It's a psychological trap, not unlike others Columbo uses: the killer thinks he’s one step ahead, until he realizes he’s the only person who could have recognized the danger.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Case

Strengths:

• The Killer’s Knowledge of the Weapon: Only Roger could have recognized the deadly mechanism hidden in the box—this becomes Columbo’s smoking gun.

• The Switcheroo: The manipulation of the car ride shows forethought and planning. Columbo understands that this murder wasn’t random—it was designed for a specific victim.

• Roger’s Ego: Like many Columbo killers, Roger’s arrogance becomes his Achilles’ heel. He underestimates Columbo's dogged intelligence.

Weaknesses:

• Highly Technical Crime: The explosive setup was elaborate, and without Columbo’s intuition, it might have been ruled an accident.

• No Physical Evidence (Initially): For much of the episode, Columbo doesn’t have forensic proof—just behavior, inconsistencies, and a hunch.

• Roger’s Playful Persona: His eccentricity masks his darker motives, and many might not take him seriously as a suspect early on.

Overlooked Clues

• The Chemistry Lab Angle: Roger’s deep knowledge of explosives—and access to lab equipment—is a subtle but important piece of the puzzle. Columbo uses this to link him to the mechanism.

• Everett’s Close Call: Had Everett Logan been in the car as planned, the murder might’ve had unintended consequences. Roger’s precision in switching passengers hints at premeditation.

• Columbo’s Patience: As always, Columbo lets the suspect talk. Roger’s need to show off, joke, and toy with authority creates a string of small admissions and tells.

Conviction Analysis

Once Roger reacts with visible fear to the decoy cigar box, Columbo has what he needs: proof that Roger recognized the mechanism—something only the killer could have done. Combine that with motive, opportunity, and the engineered car switch, and the case becomes very strong.

In court, Roger’s defense would likely argue the trap was entrapment or circumstantial. But Columbo’s observations—combined with technical forensics about the cigar box—would close the loop.

A conviction would be highly likely, especially given Roger's inability to explain how he could have known the box was dangerous unless he’d designed it himself.

Conclusion

Short Fuse is a stylish, quirky episode that pits Columbo against one of the most flamboyant killers in the series. Roger Stanford is brilliant, charming, and insufferably smug—which makes it all the more satisfying when Columbo flips the script on him.

This episode shines in its blend of psychological warfare, technical ingenuity, and one of the most dramatic “gotcha” moments involving an elevator and a fake bomb. Once again, Columbo shows that patience, intuition, and a good trap beat even the cleverest of killers.