good points....also, how about when he tells the young policeman to go ahead and search general hollister's yacht, saying that he will get a warrant later if he needs it.

Interesting point about the gum in "Agenda For Murder." Columbo's real evidence is the piece of cheese, which apparently coupled with the other circumstantial evidence enables him to get a court order for a mold of Oscar Finch's teeth.

It is interesting that despite the search for the gum being illegal, it gives Columbo a head start to the final clue.