The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14
SHERLOCK HOLMES"
The Original Was a Doctor and Conan
Doyle Was His Pupil.


New York Times.
The original Sherlock Holmes, DR.. Joseph
Bell is an eminent practitioner of Edln-
burgh. DR.. Doyle frankly confesses his
Indebtedness to Mr.. Bell, and tells how he
was impressed by him in his study days. He
says: 81 was clerk in DR.. Bells ward. A
clerks duties are to note down all the pa
tients to be seen and muster them together
When everything was ready would show
them in to DR.. Bell who would have the
students gathered around him. His intui-
tive powers were simply marvellous. Case
No. l would step up. see,' said DR.. Bell
you're suffering from drink. You even
carry a flask in the inside breast pocket of
your coat Another would come forward
'Cobbler, 1 see. Then he would turn to
the students and point out to them that
the inside of the knee of the mans trousers
was worn. That was where the man had
rested the lapstone-a popularity found only
In cobblers.
"All this impressed me very much. He
was continually before me-his sharp, pierre
ing eyes. eagle nose and striking features.
There he would sit in his chair with fingers
together-he was very dexterous with his
hands-and just look at the man or woman
taking with the students-a real good friend
and when / took my degree and went to
Africa the remarkable individuality and
discriminating tact of my old master made
a deep and lasting impression me.
though 1 had not the faintest idea that it
would one day lead me to forsake medicine
for story writing"
DR.. Bell is very prosperous man, and
lives in a handsome house in Melville Cres-
cent, not far from the university with
which he is connected. He is white
haired, keen-eyed, ruddy-faced man with
clean-shaven lips and chin.
He modestly dsclaims any credit for the
Sherlock Holmes" idea, but always says.
when questioned about 1t: "Doyle's the
Doyle has by his imaginative genius made
great deal out of very little, and his
warm remembrance of one of his old teach
ers has colored the picture.
In an interview, however, Dr. Bell &C.
knowledges that his powers of observation
have frequently been of service to the au-
thorities in the tracing of crime, and he re-
veals some of his methods. For twenty
years or more" he says, 81 have been en-
gagged in the practice of medical jurispru-
dence on behalf of the crown, but there is
little 1 can tell you about it. 1t would not
be fair to mention that which is the private
knowledge of the crown and those asso-
ciated Herewith. and the cases which have
been made public would not bear repeti-
ton. After all, any deductions and infer
ences, and so on, which / have been the
means of placing at the disposal of the au-
only credit l can take TO myself is that APP
pertaining to the circumstances that / al
ways impressed over and over again upon
my scholars-Conan Doyle among them
the vast Importance of little distinctions.
the endless significance of trifies. The great
majority of people, OF incidents and OF
cases resemble each other in the main and
large features. For instance, most men
have each a head, two arms nose, a
mouth and a certain number of teeth. IL is
the little differences, in themselves trifies.
such as the droop of an eyelid or what not,
which differentiate men.
LAS for Conan Doyle when he was my
pupil / had suspicion that he was COM
| ing out as a literary character, but always
regarded him as one of the best students
ever had He was always exceedingly in
| terested in anything connected with dag
nosis. and was never tired OF trying to dis
| looks for. Several instances excited his
keenest interest, and set him experimenting
| himself in the same direction-which, OF
| course, was just what L wanted with him
! and all other scholars.
I'm regard to the practical application OF
| these powers OF observation, there is a
| system by which they may be cultivated
| and try TO teach IL to my pupils here. The
| fatal mistake which the ordinary policeman
| makes is this. that he gets his theory first
| and then makes the facts to fit IL. instead
| of getting his facts first and making all
| his little observations and deductions until
| he is driven irresistibly by them into an
| calculation in a direction he may never
have originally contemplated. You cannot
| expect the ordinary Bobby 10 stand eight
| hours on his legs and then develop grea,
| mental strength. He doesn't get enough
| blood to his brain TO permit OF II. The
| only feasible scheme which strikes me
would be TO get a good man and give him
| carte blanche about the choosing OF assist
/ ants and the special education Of them.
After all. there may be much more II