This episode marks the most recent appearance, to date, of 1950's and 60's star Robert Horton.
Serving as English instructor at Saint Ignatius School, in Lewistown, Maine, Father Donald Barnes (Hunt Block) eagerly accepts a temporary position as parish priest to substitute for the vacationing Father Malloy, in Cabot Cove.
Donald doesn't stand upon ceremony in greeting townsfolk or playing sports with the youth of the community, but he takes his pastoral responsibilities seriously, by maintaining strict confidence when someone confesses to murder, before the body is discovered.
Kelly Barrett (Jennifer Runyon) has returned to Cabot Cove, a few years after transferring to Crane Academy, in Vermont, after completing 10th grade in Cabot Cove, upon the then remarriage of her mother, Doris West (Madlyn Rhue) to Evan West (Jon Cedar). Evan couldn't possibly replace Mr. Barrett in Kelly's estimation, but in Doris', Evan fit in well with her assets, including her modern residence and yacht.
An immobile Doris West's stable of supporters include Nurse Marilyn North (Bonnie Bartlett), Attorney George Woodward (Alan Feinstein), and schoolteacher Jack Hutchings (Robert Horton), a longstanding friend of the family.
When special needs youngster Eddie Frayne (Lance Kerwin) discovers a knife near the place in which a body is discovered, fisherman Joe (Jerry Potter) recognizes it.
Donald attempts to share clues of Eddie's innocence with Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), without breaking the "Seal of the Confessional," causing Jessica difficulty in communicating her suspicions with Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak).
Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), Deputy Floyd McCallum (Will Nye), and waitress Jennie (Mimi Cozzens) round out the cast of this Mystery, which, for Jessica, proves not as simple as it may seem.