The Conspirators
While fronting for an Irish peace group, poet Joe Devlin arranges a clandestine meeting with illicit arms dealer Vincent Pauley. When Pauley tries to pull off a double-cross, Devlin slays him even though it means eliminating his only source of illicit arms for Irish rebels. Lt. Columbo attempts to link Devlin with Pauley on a few flimsy clues, but the happy poet tries to sidetrack the detective with his Irish charm, whiskey and a competitive game of darts at his favorite pub. In time, Lt. Columbo realizes the only hope he has of nabbing Devlin is to link him with the arms smuggling caper.