The evening times., 1896-02-17
BOYD EARNED THE TITLE
Brother Police officers Now Address
Him as Sherlock Holmes"
tonislIeti the Woman who
Owned 1t.

The exclusive right to the title of "Sher-
lock Holmes" OF the detective office has
been bestowed upon George Boyd, with
the unanimous approval OF his brother Of
ficcrs and the local police reporters, ard it
Will be his until some one OF the other deep
thinking slcuths around headquarters earn
the right to share il. How Boyd gained the
title is told by the following story:
Among the recent small larccnies re-
ported at headqua Ttcrs was one or
clock, stolen from the parlOr of an unprc-
teniious abode in the southwest section Of
the city. No description accompanied The
report, and with several other petty rob-
berries il was turned over to Boyd 10 in-
yestiCate,. In the course OF the day he
called al the house ard asked for the lady
from whom the clock was stolen. He was
shown into the parlor. and the servant
went TO call her mistress.
Boyd, while waiting. glanced around the
room, and when his eyes lighted on the
maDtclpiece he saw something that inter
cstcd him. Just over the center of the
mantcl, where ii had rested against the
wall and where the dust had settled around
IL, was n perfect outline OF the missing
clock. IL showed the straight sides and
slightly curved top OF what was apparently
an ordinary marble clock, such as can be
seen in almost every household, and IT fur
he had ready for use when the lady en-
tered.
You had n clock stolen he said, after
introducing himself, and when she admitted
that such was the case. he gave her a
minute description Of il, from the dust
marks on the wall.
That's the clock cxa city" she eN
claimed after he had finished. Where is
it?''
Il don't know; we haven't found it yet"
We'll, how did you know what 1t is
like she asked much mystified.
On. that's one Of our secrets replied
Boyd impressivciy. But I'll have your
clock for you inside of twent y-fou- hours"
With this assurance he departed, and be-
fore he had gotten back to headquarters
he had. as is customary with detectives,
forgotten all about the clock But he was
reminded Of IL when he entered the office,
however 10y hearing the cplwnshopinspector
say that a clock. winch was thought to lie
stolen. had been pa wned that morning.
Having nothing else to- do. he visited the
shop. and there was the identical clock;
the one he had never expected to see OF
hear from. He lett word with the pa VIII
broker t. Gctain the thief who had pawned
it. il he ever turned up again. and took
the clock back tn the owner. He delivered
il over 10 her as proof OF his genius, and
the general efficiency OF the Washington
police.
Wei! have the thief in a few days" he
announced. as he left.
This was something he did not believe
himself. but. as luck would have it, in
couple of days. word was received at
hcaacUar;crS that Il detective was wanted
al Inat same pawnshop. Boyd went down.
and the negro who pawned the clock was
handed over 1" him. He was tried in the
unlicc roart and sentenced TO Il term in jail.
the owner OF the clock appearing against
him.
Buyd's reputation in her neighborhoOd is
assured Tor all time To come. and at Il fCii
meeting or the wise GcZaboes, presided over
by Chief Horne. and held in the detectives
room. before reporters were excluded, the
Laurel for superior intuition was hung upon
his brow.