From Conclusion of Columbo TV Movie “Negative Reaction” (1974)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1H6jZNx8Y4&t=5150
Columbo: "You see this newspaper? This is the same edition of the newspaper
that the letters and words for the ransom note were cut out of. I'm trying
to reconstruct that note. I'll tell you what the problem is. We found this
newspaper in [Deschler’s] motel room. It was sprawled over a chair.
It was left there. Even though the maid said that she cleaned up the room."
Killer: "Yes, I told you. She probably lied."
Columbo: "That's the problem, sir. You see this terrible mess I'm making?
There's just no way [Deschler could have] cut up this paper and paste
together this note without making a mess. My point is this: If the maid
forgot to clean up the room then why didn't we find little bits and pieces
of paper somewhere? You see the problem? If she did clean up the room,
then everything gets thrown out. All the bits and pieces of paper get thrown
out and the newspaper get thrown out. If she doesn't clean up the room
then these scraps of paper, they have to be somewhere [in the room].
You can see the contradiction."
What is the contradiction Columbo sees?
In this exercise, we represent his argument and prove its validity.
Let: D = Deschler made the ransom note
C = The maid cleaned the room
N = We found the newspaper
S = We found newspaper scraps
Represent the following argument and prove the conclusion:
(1) If Deschler made the ransom note and the maid cleaned the room, then we
find neither the newspaper nor its scraps.
(2) If Deschler made the ransom note and the maid didn’t clean the room, then
we find the newspaper and its scraps.
(3) We found the newspaper but no newspaper scraps.
Therefore: Deschler didn’t make the ransom note
Solution:
(1) (D & C)  (~N & ~S) Prem
(2) (D & ~C)  (N & S) Prem
(3) N & ~S Prem
:. ~D
(4) D Assumption for RAA
(5) C Assumption for RAA
(6) D&C 4,5 &-Introduction
(7) ~N & ~S 1, 6 Modus Ponens
(8) ~N 7 &-Elimination
(9) N 3 &-Elimination
(10) N & ~N 8,9 &-Introduction
(11) ~C 5-10 RAA
(12) D & ~C 4, 11 &-Introduction
(13) N&S 2, 12 Modus Ponens
(14) S 13, &-Elimination
(15) ~S 3, &-Elimination
(16) S & ~S 14,15 &-Introduction
(17) ~D 4-16 RAA