No 4 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle

We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, maid brought in telegram from Sherlock Holmes and ran :

couple of days to spare ? Have just been wired for west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy come with me Air and scenery perfect Leave Paddington 11:15

"What say, dear ? " said my wife, looking across at me " go ? "

"I really don't know what fairly long list at present "

"Oh, Anstruther would do your work looking little pale lately change would good, and always so interested in Mr Sherlock Holmes's cases "

" ungrateful if I , seeing what I gained through ," I answered "But if , pack at once, for only half an hour "

My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had had the effect of making me prompt and ready traveller My wants were few and simple, in time stated in 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 grey travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap

" really of you , Watson," said he "It makes considerable difference , having someone with me on whom thoroughly rely Local aid is always either worthless or else biased keep the two corner seats get the tickets "

We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of papers which Holmes had brought he rummaged and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until we were past Reading Then he suddenly rolled them all into gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack

" heard anything case ? " he asked

"Not word seen paper for some days "

"The London press had very full accounts just been looking through all the recent papers to master the particulars It seems, from what I gather, one simple cases which are so extremely difficult "

"That sounds little paradoxical "

"But profoundly true Singularity is almost invariably clew The more featureless and commonplace crime is, the more difficult to bring it home In , however, established very serious case against the son murdered man "

" murder, then ? "

"Well, conjectured so take nothing for granted until the opportunity of looking personally explain the state of things , as far as to understand it, in very few words

"Boscombe Valley is country district not very far from Ross, in Herefordshire The largest landed proprietor part is Mr John Turner, his money in Australia and returned old country farms which he held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr Charles McCarthy, who was also an ex-Australian The men had known colonies, so not unnatural that came to settle down they should as near as possible Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect equality, were frequently together McCarthy had one son, lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter same age, but neither had wives living They appear avoided the society neighbouring English families and led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of sport and were frequently seen race-meetings neighbourhood McCarthy kept two servants--a man and girl Turner had considerable household, some half-dozen least as to gather families Now facts

"On June 3rd, , on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Hatherley about three afternoon and walked down Boscombe Pool, small lake formed spreading stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley He out serving-man morning at Ross, and he had told the man that hurry, as he had an appointment of importance at three appointment he never came back alive

"From Hatherley Farm-house Boscombe Pool is quarter of mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground One was an old woman, whose name mentioned, other was William Crowder, game-keeper employ of Mr Turner Both these witnesses depose that Mr McCarthy was walking alone The game-keeper adds that within seeing Mr McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr James McCarthy, going the same way with gun under his arm best belief, the father was actually in sight , son was following him He thought no more matter until he heard evening tragedy that had occurred

"The two McCarthys were seen time when William Crowder, the game-keeper, lost sight The Boscombe Pool is thickly wooded round, with just fringe of grass and of reeds round the edge girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, the daughter lodge-keeper Boscombe Valley estate, was in woods picking flowers She states that while she was there she saw, border wood and close lake, Mr McCarthy son, and appeared having violent quarrel She heard Mr McCarthy the elder using very strong language son, and she saw the latter raise up his hand to strike his father She was so frightened by their violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Boscombe Pool, she was afraid were going to fight She had hardly said the words when young Mr McCarthy came running lodge that he had found his father dead wood, and to ask help lodge-keeper much excited, without either his gun or his hat, right hand and sleeve were observed stained with fresh blood On following him they found the dead body stretched out grass beside the pool The head beaten in by repeated blows of some heavy and blunt weapon The injuries were such as might inflicted butt-end son's gun, found lying grass within few paces body Under these circumstances the young man was instantly arrested, and verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned inquest on Tuesday, on Wednesday brought magistrates at Ross, referred the case next Assizes Those are the main facts case came out coroner police-court "

" hardly imagine more damning case," I remarked "If ever circumstantial evidence pointed to criminal it does so here "

"Circumstantial evidence is very tricky thing," answered Holmes thoughtfully "It may seem to point very straight to , but shift your own point of view little, find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different It confessed, however, case looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and very possible that indeed the culprit several people neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the daughter neighbouring landowner, who believe innocence, and retained Lestrade, whom recollect in connection with 'A Study in Scarlet', to work out the case interest Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the case , and hence it two middle-aged gentlemen are flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly digesting their breakfasts at home "

" afraid," said I, " facts are so obvious that little credit gained out of "