The Gift

Plot
When Brian Emerson is arrested and charged with his wife's murder, Matlock takes the case waiving his usual fee. His efforts to get the father out on bail fail when he lands a judge who has lost his Christmas spirit. Ben then takes the young girl in with him.

Summary
After Tyler was hit in the head, Philip Tracy, whose wife left him seven years ago, confesses that he made all those threatening phone calls to Maggie because of what Maggie had done to his wife. He adds that he'd gone to the party that night to have it out with Maggie, and he was so mad, he could have killed Maggie himself, but someone beat him to it, and that he got a good look at the guy who committed the murder. Tyler then brings back Philip's wife Miriam as a Christmas gift. Her husband asked Miriam why she came back, and Miriam replied that Tyler said Philip still loved her. Philip replied that she left him, and Miriam responded that Philip had sent her away. Finally, Philip tells Miriam he thought she didn't want him anymore. It is soon discovered that Mr. Bono is the culprit who killed Maggie; as he was in a Santa costume when he entered the room while she was on the phone talking to 911, she mistakenly assumed he was Brian, but Mr. Bono's dog Toto knew better (because, as Mr. Bono explained, Toto never barked at Maggie or Mr. Bono).

Trivia

 * The courthouse is a different one from the usual one seen in other episodes.