“The Boscombe Valley Mystery“ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Part 1 of 3

Stranger, we were sitting at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the maid brought a telegram that was from Sherlock Holmes and posted it this way. Do you have a couple of days to spare? A telegram has just been received from the west of England regarding The Boscombe Valley Tragedy. I will be glad if you will come with me. Perfect air and landscape. Leave Paddington at 11 15. What do you say dear? My wife said looking at me. You will leave? I really don't know what to say. I have one present on the list quite long oh in strata would do your job for you you have looked a little pale lately I think the change would be good for you and you are always very interested in the cases of Mr.

Sherlock Holmes I would be ungrateful if I didn't Seeing what I got through one of them, I replied, "If I'm going to go, I must pack it once because I only have half an hour. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the effect of making me a fast traveler and ready for my trip." The needs were few and simple, so in less than the indicated time I was in a taxi with my Belize heading to Paddington station. Sherlock Holmes walked up and down the platform, his tall, thin figure made even taller and thinner by his long gray traveling cloak. and a tight-fitting cloth cap, it is really very kind of you to come.

Watson said that it makes a considerable difference to me to have someone with me whom I can trust completely. Local help is always useless or

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ial if you stick with both. seats in the corners, I'll buy the tickets, we had the carriage to ourselves, except for an immense pile of papers that Holmes had brought with him, among them he rummaged through red with intervals of note-taking and meditation until we stopped reading and suddenly amount. I rolled them all into a gigantic ball and threw them on the shelf. Have you heard anything about the case? He didn't ask a word.

I haven't seen a newspaper for a few days. The London press has not had very complete reports. I've just been looking. Through all the recent articles on mastering the details, it seems, from what I gather, to be one of those simple cases that are so extremely difficult that they sound a bit paradoxical, but are profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a clue, the more common and ordinary. a crime is more difficult to bring home in this case however they have established a very serious case against the son of the murdered man it is a murder so well it is conjectured that it is so I will not take anything for granted until I have the opportunity to examine it personally, I will explain to you the state of things as far as I have been able to understand it in very few words.

The Boscombe Valley is a rural district not far from Ross, in Herefordshire, the largest landowner. in that

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is Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned some years ago to the old country. One of the farms he largely owned was taken to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was also an ex-Australian whom the men had known. each other in the colonies, so it was not unnatural that when they came to settle they did so as close to each other as possible. Turner was apparently the richest man, so McCarthy became his tenant, but still remained, it seems, on terms of perfect equality as they were frequently together.

McCarthy had a son, a boy of 18, and Turner had an only daughter of the same age, but neither had wives. They appear to have avoided the society of neighboring English families and to have led retired lives although both of them enjoyed sports and were frequently seen at neighborhood races. McCarthy had two servants, a man and a girl. Turner had a sizable house, half a dozen at least, that's all I've been able to gather about the families now for the facts on June 3, that is, last Monday, McCarthy left his home in Hadley around three o'clock in the afternoon and walked to the Boston pool, which is a small lake formed by the extension of the stream that runs through the Boscom

valley

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He had gone out with his servant in the morning at Ross and had told her that he had to hurry because he had an important appointment to keep at three o'clock. Since that date he never returned from Heatherly Farmhouse to the Boston pool alive. it is a quarter of a mile, and two persons saw him as he passed this ground, one was an old woman whose name is not mentioned, and the other was William Crowder, a gamekeeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Witnesses testify that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone, the ranger adds that within minutes of seeing Mr.

McCarthy pass, he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going in the same direction with a gun under his arm, to the best of his knowledge, the father was actually in sight at the time and the son was following him. He gave no further thought to the matter until he learned in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. The two McCarthys were seen afterwards. that William Crowder, the gamekeeper, lost sight of them the Boston pool is surrounded by thick woods with only a strip of grass and reeds around the edge a 14-year-old girl of patience Moran, who was the daughter of the Keeper of the estate of the Boston Valley, was in one of the woods picking flowers, states that while he was there he saw at the edge of In the woods and near the lake, Mr.

McCarthy and his son and that they appeared to be having a violent fight, he heard the Mr. McCarthy the Elder used very strong language toward his son and saw the latter raise his hand as if to hit his father. She was so scared by the violence that she ran away and when she got home she told her mother that she had left the two McCarthys fighting near the Boston pool and that she was afraid they were going to fight. . She had barely said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came running to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead in the woods and to ask the lodge keeper for help.

He was very excited without his gun or his hat and it was noted that his right hand and his sleeve were damaged. stained with fresh blood, when they followed him they found the body lying on the grass next to the pond the head had been hit repeatedly with some heavy, blunt weapon the wounds were such that they could well have been inflicted by the butt of his son's gun, which was found lying on the grass a few paces from the body, under these circumstances the young man was instantly arrested, and a verdict of willful murder having been returned at the inquest on Tuesday, was brought on Wednesday before the magistrates of Ross, who have referred the case at a close size, those are the main facts of the case as presented to the coroner and police court.

He could hardly imagine a more damning case. I commented that if ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal, he does it. "So circumstantial evidence is a very complicated thing here," Holmes replied thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very directly at one thing, but if you change your own point of view a little, you may find that it points just as uncompromisingly at something entirely different, it must be." He confessed, however, that the case seems extremely serious against the young man and it is very possible that he is indeed the culprit; However, there are several people in the neighborhood, including Miss Turner, the daughter of the neighboring landowner, who believe in his innocence and who have hired Lestrade, whom you may remember in connection with the study in Scarlet, to solve the case. in your interest.

The straw, being quite bewildered, has referred the case to me and so two middle-aged gentlemen are flying west at 50 miles per hour. Instead of calmly digesting your breakfasts at home, I'm afraid I said that the facts are so obvious that little credit can be gained in this case. There is nothing more misleading than an obvious fact. He responded laughing. In addition, we had the opportunity to hit. about some other obvious facts which may not have been in any way obvious to Mr. Lestrade, you know me too well to think that I am boasting when I say that I will confirm or destroy his theory by means which he is completely incapable of employing or even of understanding to take the first example at hand.

I perceive very clearly that in his bedroom the window is on the right side, and yet I wonder if Mr. Lestrade would have noticed something as obvious as that, how the hell, my dear friend. I know you very well, I know the military necessity that characterizes you, you shave every morning and in this season you shave in the sunlight, but since your shave is less and less complete as we move towards the left side until becomes positively sloppy as we move towards the left side. We border the angle of the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated than the other.

I cannot imagine a man of your habits looking at himself in the same light and being satisfied with such a result. I only mention this as my craft is a trivial example of observation and inference and it is quite possible that it may be of some use in the investigation before us. There are one or two minor points that emerged in the investigation that are worth considering. It seems that his arrest did not occur immediately, but after returning to Hallelu Farm, the police inspector informed him that he was a prisoner and commented that he was not surprised to hear it and that it was nothing more than his In desserts, this observation of his it had the natural effect of removing any trace of doubt that might have remained in the minds of the coroner's jury.

It was a confession that I ejaculated, not because it was followed by a protest of innocence that added to such condemnation. series of events was at least a very suspicious comment contrary to the domes it is the brightest crack I can currently for his own arrest or feigned indignation, I would have considered him highly suspicious because such surprise or anger would be unnatural under the circumstances and yet might seem like the best policy for a man. scheming man, his frank acceptance of his situation marks him as either an innocent man or a man of considerable self-control and firmness.

As for his comment about his desserts, it was also not unnatural considering that he was next to his father's corpse and that there is no doubt that that same day he had until now forgotten his filial duty regarding Bandy's words with him and even according to the girl whose evidence it is so important to raise your hand as to hit the car- The reproach and contrition displayed in your comment struck me as signs of a healthy mind rather than a guilty mind. I shook my head. Many men have been hanged. Much milder trials are observed, and many men have been wronged. hanged What is the young man's story about the matter?

I'm afraid he's not very encouraging to his followers, although there are one or two points that are suggestive. He will find it here and you can read it for yourself. He selected from I picked up a copy of the local Herefordshire newspaper and, rejecting the sheet, pointed to the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what had happened. I sat in a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It proceeded in this manner: Mr James McCarthy, the deceased's only son, was called and gave evidence as follows. He had been away from home for three days in Bristol and had just returned since the morning of the third Monday last.

My father was absent. from home at the time of my arrival and the maid informed me that he had driven to Ross with John Cobb, the stable boy, shortly after my return. I heard the wheels of his car in the yard and, looking out the window, I saw him. I got out and walked quickly out of the yard, although I didn't know which direction he was going. Then I took my gun and walked in the direction of the Boston pool with the intention of visiting the Warren rabbit witches on the other side of my path. So I saw William Crowder the gamekeeper as he had said in his testimony but he was mistaken in thinking that he was following my father.

I had no idea he was in front of me when about a hundred meters from the pool I heard a kui scream. which was a usual sign between me and my dad, then I hurried over and found him standing by the pool. He seemed very surprised to see me and he asked me rather abruptly what I was doing there. A conversation ensued which led to loud words and almost blows because my father was a man of very violent character. Seeing that his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned to Hadley Farm. I hadn't gone more than 150 yards however when I heard a terrifying scream behind me that made me run.

When I returned I found my father dying on the ground with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in my arms, but almost instantly he expired. I knelt beside him for a few minutes and then headed to Mr. Turner's Lodge, his housekeeper. the closest to ask for help I didn't see anyone near my father when I returned and I have no idea how he got hurt. He was not a popular man, he had somewhat cold and prohibitive manners, but as far as I know, he had no active enemies. I don't know anything else about the matter.

Did the coroner make any statement to you before his father died? The witness muttered a few words but I could only catch some allusion to a rat. What did the coroner understand?you for that witness? you conveyed nothing what it means to me I thought the coroner was delusional what was the point about which you and your father had this final fight witness I would prefer not to respond to the coroner I'm afraid I must insist witness it is really impossible for me to tell you, I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy that followed the coroner that it is up to the court to decide.

I do not need to point out to you that your refusal to respond will considerably prejudice your case in any future proceedings that may arise as a witness. Even so, I must refuse the coroner. I understand that the Kui Cry was a common signal between you and your father. Witness. It was the coroner. How then did he say it before he saw you and before he knew you were returning from Bristol? witness with considerable confusion I don't know a member of the jury didn't he see anything to arouse his suspicions when he returned upon hearing the scream and found his father fatally wounded witness nothing definitive the coroner what does the coroner mean Witness He was so disturbed and excited as he ran As he left In the light I couldn't think of anything but my father, but I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something was lying on the ground to my left, it looked like something gray in color, some kind of coat. or a plaid maybe when I got up from my father I looked for him but he was gone Do you mean he disappeared before you went to get help?

Yes, it was gone, you can't tell what it was. No. I had the feeling that something was there. How far? from the body a dozen yards or so and how far from the edge of the wood is more or less the same, so if they removed it it was while it was a dozen yards from him, yes, but with my back to him, this concluded the interrogation of the witness. I see that he said, as I look at the column, that the coroner in his closing remarks was quite harsh on young Mr. McCarthy; draws attention, and rightly so, to the discrepancy that his father had given him a sign before seeing him, also to his refusal to give him The details of his conversation with his father and his unique account of his father's last words are all comments very contrary to the Sun.

Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched out on the padded seat. Both the coroner have been suffering some pain. he said to point out the strongest points in the young man's favor, don't you see that he ultimately gives him credit for having too much imagination and too little if he couldn't invent a reason for dispute that would give him sympathy? of the jury too much if it evolved from his own inner Consciousness, something like that is a dying reference to a rat and the incident of the disappearing cloth, no sir, I will approach this case from the point of view that what this young man says is TRUE. and we will see if that hypothesis carries us and now here is my pocket pet and I will not say another word about this case until we are at the scene of the action, we have lunch in Swindon and I see that we will be there in 20 It was almost four o'clock when by Finally, after passing through the beautiful Stroud Valley and over the broad, shining sevens, we found ourselves in the pretty little country town of Ross, a thin, ferret-like, furtive and cunning-looking man was waiting for us. the stand despite the light brown overalls and leather leggings she wore in deference to his rustic surroundings.

I had no difficulty in recognizing Lestrade from Scotland Yard. With him we headed to the Hereford Arms, where they had already rented us a room. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat down to a cup of tea. He knew your energetic nature and that he wouldn't be happy until you had been to the crime scene. He was very kind and complementary of you. Holmes replied that it is completely a question of barometric pressure. The straw seems surprised. I don't quite understand. He said how the glass was. 29 I don't see any wind or a cloud in the sky.

I have here a box full of cigarettes that must be smoked and the sofa is far superior to the usual country hotel abomination. I don't think you're likely to use the carriage tonight. The Strod laughed indulgently. You've no doubt already drawn your conclusions from the newspapers. He said the case is as clear as Pike's staff and the more you go the clearer it becomes of course you can't reject a lady and besides a very positive woman has heard of you and would have her opinion even though I told her repeatedly that there was nothing you could do that I wouldn't have done already. done oh, bless my soul here is your carriage at the door I had barely spoken before they ran into the room one of the loveliest young women I have ever seen in my life one violet eye shining her lips parted a rosy blush on her cheeks Everything Thought of her natural reserve was lost in her overwhelming excitement and concern, she screamed, looking from one to the other and, finally, with the quick intuition of a woman clinging to my companion.

I'm so glad you came. I even drove to tell you. I know James didn't do it. I know it and I want you to start your work knowing it too. Never let yourself doubt that point. We've known each other since we were little kids and I know it's his fault that no one else does it. but he is too tender with her to fly with a child like that, it is absurd to anyone who really knows him. I hope we can clarify it. Miss Turner said Sherlock Holmes, he can trust me to do all he can, but she has read the evidence he has formed. some conclusion you don't see some loophole some floor you don't believe yourself that he is innocent I think it is very likely there now she cried throwing her head back and looking defiantly at the street you the strong one shrugged his shoulders I'm afraid my colleague has been a little quick to report his conclusions, he said, but he's right, oh, I know he's right.

James never did and about his fight with his father, I'm sure the reason he didn't want to talk to the coroner about it. It was because I was worried how I asked Holmes that this is not the time for him to hide anything. James and his father had many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always loved each other. like brother and sister, but of course he's young and he's seen very little of life yet and, well, naturally he didn't want to do any of that yet, so there were fights and I'm sure this was one of them and your father told him. he asked Holmes.

Was he in favor of such a union? No, he was against her. Furthermore, no one except Mr. McCarthy was in favor. A quick blush passed over his fresh young face as Holmes shot him one of his sharp questioning glances. Thank you for this information. He said I can see your father if I call tomorrow. I'm afraid the doctor won't allow it. The doctor yes, haven't you heard that poor father has never been strong for years, but this has completely destroyed him and he has gone to bed? and Dr. Willows says that he is a mess and that his nervous system is destroyed.

Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive who had known Dad in the old days in Victoria. Hello in Victoria, that's important. Yes, in the mines. In the gold mines. I understand that Mr. Turner earned the money from him. Yes, thanks. Miss Turner. He has been a great help to me. If he has any news tomorrow, tell me. No doubt he will go to the prison to see James. If so, Mr. Holmes, tell him. he who I know is innocent I will miss Turner I must go home now because dad is very sick and he misses me so if I leave him goodbye and may God help you in your endeavor he hurried out of the room as impulsively as he had entered and We heard the wheels of his carriage echo down the street.

I am ashamed of you. Holmes said the straw with dignity after a few minutes of silence. Why should you ask for help that you will surely disappoint? I'm not too tender. the heart but I call it cruel I think I see my way to clarify James McCarthy said that Holmes has you to see him in prison yes, but only for you and me then I will reconsider my resolution to leave, we still have time to take a train to Hereford and You'll see it tonight, so let's do it, Watson. I'm afraid he'll find it too slow, but I'll only be gone for a couple of hours.