Character Ian A. Morley (Donald Pleasence) is the author of a book titled "Seven Who Beat The Headsman." The prop for this fictional book shows up on the bookshelf in John Carpenter's 1982 film "The Thing." Carpenter frequently cast Pleasence in his films, most notably his "Halloween" series.
Donald Pleasance is one of the murderers that appears on both "Columbo" and "Mrs. Columbo." Pleasance had previously appeared in 1972's "Any Old Port in a Storm."
This episode is a "Bonus Episode" on Disc 3, of season 3, if you buy the full box set of "Columbo - The Complete Series".