The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-08
ADVENTURE w
THE BOsCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY

fore the magistrates at Ross, who have
the case to the next assizes.
Those are the main facts of the case
as they came out before the coroner
and at the police court.
81 could hardly imagine a more
aa%nns eTaenes ponted to
Circumstantial evidence is very
tricky thing" answered Holmes,
very Straight to one thing, but if You
shift your own point of view little, |
you may find it pointing in an equally |,
uncompromising manner to something
entirely different. 1t must be confessed,
however, that the case looks ex-
and it is very possible that he is indeed
the culprit. There are several people
in the neighborhood, however, and
among them Miss Turner, the daughter
of the neighboring land owner, who be-
lieved in his innocence, and who have
retained Lestrade, whom you may recol-
lect in connection with the Study in
Scarlet, to work out the case in his in
has referred the case to me, and hence
it is that two middle-aged gentlemen
are flying westward at fifty miles an
hour: instead of quietly digesting their
breakfasts at home
1T am afraid" said I, "that the
facts are so obvious that you will find
little credit to be gained out Of this
case.'
"There is nothing more deceptive
laughing. "Besides, we may chance to
hit upon some other obvious facts which
may have been by no means obvious to
Mr. Lestrade. You know me too we'll
to think that am Boosting when I say
that I shall either confirm or destroy his
theory by means which he is quite in
capable of employing, or even of under
standing. To take the first example to
hand, very clearly perez i've that in
| right hand side, and yet question
whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted
even SO self-evident. a thing as that. -
GLOW on earth-''
"My dear fellow, I know you we'll.
I know the military neatness which
chafact erizes you. You shave every
morning, and in this season you shave
by the sunlight; but since your shaving
is less and less complete as we get
becomes positively slovenly as, we get
round the angle of the jaw, it is surely
very clear that that side is less well
illuminated than the other. 1 could
not imagine a man of your habits look
ing at himself in an equal light, and
being satisfied with such result. I
only quote this as trivial example
of observation and inference. Therein
lies my meter, and it is just possible
investigation which lies before us.
There are one or two minor points
which were brought out in the inquest,
and which are worth considering
"What are they9"
cit appears that his arrest did not
take place at once, but after the return
to Hatherley farm. On the inspector of
was a prisoner, he remarked that he
was not surprised to hear it., and that
it was no more than his deserts. This
observation Of his had the natural CT
feet Of removing any traces Of doubt
which might have remained in the
minds Of the coroner's jury"
cit was a confession,' ejaculat
"No, for it was followed by a protes
tatiOn of innocence.
"Coming on the top of such damn
ing series of events, it was at least s
most suspicious remark:
con the contrary said Holmes, "i
is the brightest rift which I ,can al
,, present see in the clouds. However in
! nocent he might be, he could not b.
,, such an absolute imbecile as not to Sc,
= that the circumstances were very blacl
i, against him. Had he appeared sur
> dignation at it, I should have locke,
= upon it as highly suspicious, becaus
. such surprise or anger would not b
. natural under the circumstances, an
\ yet might appear to be the best polio:
~ to a scheming man. His frank accept
y ance of the situation marks him n
Y either an innocent man, or else of a ma
of considerable self-restraint and firm
!, ness. AS to his remark about hi
q consider that he stood beside the dea
IS body of his father, and that there is n
3 doubt that he had that very day so ia
q forgotten his filial duty as to band
IL words with him, and even, according
u the little girl whose evidence is so in
10 portant, to raise his hand as if I
1t strike him. The elf-reproach and co,
1t triton which are displayed in his r
e. mark appear to me to be the signs of
10 healthy mind, rather than of guilt
e, one.'
ID shook my head. "Many men hay
n, been hanged on far slighter evidence,
I'd I remarked.
g. $50 they have. And many men ha,
r. been wrongfully hanged"
r: "What is the young mans own a
ae count Of the matter7'
w cit is, I am afraid, not very e
~ couraging to his supporters, tho the
es are one or two points in it which a
a suggestive. You will find it here, al
lis may read it for yourself"
mt He picked out from his bundle
W. copy of the local Herefordshire papt
he and having turned down the sheet,
OF pointed out the paragraph in viii
the unfortunate young man had Civ
er his own statement of what had occl
he red. I settled myself down in the CT
he ner of the carriage, and read it We
I'd, carefully. It ran in this way:
DIS ,"Mr. James Mccarthy, the only son
&c the deceased, was then called, and ga
he evidence as follows: Il had been aw
ey from home for three days at Brist
ng and had only just returned upon t
as morning Of last Monday, the 3rd. \
he father was absent from home at t
lc- time of my arrival, and was inform
ap- by the maid that he had driven over
ell. Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Sho
ng ly after my return heard the whe
nd Of his trap in the yard, and, looking
as of my window, saw him get out a
so walk rapidly out Of the yard, tho v
,he not aware in which direction he v
len going. then took my gun and stroll
The out in the direction Of the Boscon
os- pool, with the intention Of visiting
aid rabbit warren which is upon the OF
She side. On. my way l saw William Crt
ing der, the gamekeeper, as he had sta
the in his evidence; but he is mistaken
his thinking that I was following my
ask ther T had no idea that he was