PART II. Michael Preece did a fine job directing, it shows. This was actually an early credit for him. He later became series director for DALLAS.
The star of the show is Pat Hingle (as Garrison), the devious head of a cult, linked to kidnapping and murder, who also gets Barnaby in HOT water. In all probability, writer Robert Lenski was inspired by the story of Synanon, the former drug counseling center, which was making scandalous headlines at the time, particularly with the attempted murder of an investigating lawyer.
With his license (conveniently) pulled, Barnaby has no choice but to do background work while JR joins the cult and comes face to face with Garrison, who now wants to kill him. In the real life case of Synanon, a hidden rattlesnake nearly killed the attorney. This is fairly wild stuff, and with a fabulous cast, including Joanne Linville and Marlyn Mason.
If you're a Pat Hingle fan, the same year this episode was filmed, he appeared in two classic films; NORMA RAE, that earned Sally Field and Oscar and in ELVIS, as Colonel Parker. I think he carries a bit of Parker's sly character with him in this role. Whatever the case, Hingle was a natural.
Keep the late night coffee brewing. SEASON 7 EPISODES 22 and 23 remastered color CBS. 6 dvds. Released 2018. Note the picture of Buddy Ebsen on the box cover looks to be from "Breakfast At Tiffanys." It sure looks like a photo of him from that film, about 20 years earlier.