A Study in Sherlock. Raymond G. Farney
Street.
Locations Mentioned:Tottenham Court Road, location of Miss Sutherland’s father’s plumbing business.Bordeaux, France, where Mr. Windibank was to go the night of the gasfitters ball on business.St. Saviours church, near King’s Cross. Wedding location.St. Pancras Hotel, location of the wedding breakfast.31 Lyon Place, Camberwell. Miss Sutherland’s address.Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers of Fenchurch Street who Mr. Windibank travels for.Marseilles, someone from there had referred a case to Holmes.
Evidence & Clues:Hosmer’s letters to Miss Sutherland are all typewritten, including his signature, no super scription, except Leadenhall Street, which is rather vague.-----“The point about the signature is very suggestive—in fact, we may call it conclusive.”-----“My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it bears upon the case.”
Motive:To keep the control of a hundred a year, from Miss Sutherland’s inheritance.
Timeline:Friday, morning of the 14th, the wedding day set for Miss Sutherland and Mr. Angel.Saturday the 15th Miss Sutherland places a missing persons ad for James Angel in the Chronicle.1st DayTuesday the 18th, Miss Sutherland first meets with Holmes in Baker St.2nd DayWednesday the 19th, 6:00 p.m., Mr. Windibank comes to Baker St. where Holmes reveals he knows Windibank is Angel and how badly he treated Miss Sutherland.
Story Conclusion:“Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I knew at the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed description, I eliminated everything from it which could be the result of the disguise — the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me whether it answered description of any of their travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business address, asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his reply was typewritten, and revealed the same trivial but characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Westhouse and Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the description tallied in every respect with that of their employee, James Windibank. Voila tout!”“And Miss Sutherland?”“If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Persian saying. ‘There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub, and danger also for whoso snatches the delusions from a woman. There is as much sense in Hafiz and in Horace, and as much knowledge of the world.”
Weather:None Mentioned.
Payment:None Mentioned.
Quotes:“And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the answers to these letters come, so we may put our little problem upon the shelf for the interim.”Quotes on Crime and Deduction“I have found that it is usually in unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, and for the investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the simpler, for the bigger the crime, the more obvious, as a rule, is the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which has been referred to me from Marseilles,”“Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details.”“It has been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.”“Not invisible, but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring you to realize the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumbnails, or the great issues that may hang from a bootlace. Now what did you gather from that woman’s appearance? Describe it.”“My first glance is always at a woman’s sleeve. In a man it is perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser.”“You did not know where to look, and so you missed all that was important.” (#3, 9, 29, 50)Holmes“Never mind,” said Holmes, laughing; “it is my business to know things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?” (#3 & 9)I smiled and shook my head. “I can quite understand you thinking so,” I said. “Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout the three continents, you are brought in contact with.”“I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend’s subtle powers of reasoning, and extraordinary energy in action, that I felt that he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which we had been called upon to fathom.”“I felt that it would be a strange tangle indeed which he could not unravel.”Watson“This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself.”“’Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and you have a quick eye for colour.”
Notes:Watson mentions the story in The Red-Headed League.The story A Scandal in Bohemia is mentioned.Watson not living at Baker St. at the time.
The Boscombe
Valley Mystery
Publication & Dates:Strand, October 1891The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. (4th story) 1892Illustrations: Sidney Paget (10)Conan Doyle’s 6th storyHolmes’ 22nd case
Story Introduction:We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes, and ran in this way:“Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Leave Paddington by the 11:15.”“What do you say, dear?” said my wife, looking across to me. “Will you go?”“I really don’t know what to say. I have a fairly long list at present.”“Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking a little pale lately. I think that the change will do you good, you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes’ cases.”“I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained through one of them,” I answered. “But if I am to go I must pack at once, for I have only half an hour.”My experience of camp life in Afghanistan at least had the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Holmes was pacing up-and-down the platform, his tall, gaunt figure made even gaunter and taller by his long gray traveling cloak, and close-fitting cloth cap.“It is really very good of you to come, Watson,” said he. “It makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless or else biased. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall get the tickets.”We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of papers which Holmes brought with him. Among these he rummaged and read, with intervals of note-taking and meditation, until we passed Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a gigantic ball, and tossed them up onto the rack.“Have you heard anything of the case?” he asked.“Not a word. I have not seen the paper for some days.”“The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those simple cases which are so extremely difficult.”“I never heard of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter’s words, and say ‘There but for the grace of God goes Sherlock Holmes.’”Case Information
Date:Morning.
Duration:2 Days
Crime:Blackmail.Murder.
Client:Miss Alice Turner, John Turner’s daughter.
Victims:Mr. John Turner, blackmailed by Charles McCarthy.Mr. Charles McCarthy, murdered by John Turner.
Crime Scene:Boscombe Pool, Boscombe Valley, “a country district not far from Ross, in Herefordshire.” — “which is a little reed-girt sheet of water some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Hatherley Farm and the private oak of the wealthy Mr. Turner.”
Criminals:Mr. Charles McCarthy for years blackmailed and lived off Turner.Mr. John Turner. “The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of decrepitude, and yet hard, deep-lined craggy features, and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual strength of body