The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-05
PART ONE

1t was no very unusual thing for
Mr.. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, to
look IN upon us of an evening, and
his visits were welcome to Sherlock
Holmes, for they enabled him to keep
in touch with all that was going on
at police headquarters. In return for
the news which Lestrade would bring,
Holmes was always ready to listen
with attention to the details of any
case upon which the detective was
engaged, and was able occasionally,
without any active interference, to
give some hint or suggestion drawn
from his vast knowledge and expert
ence.
On this particular evening Lestrade
had spoken of the weather and the
newspapers. Then he had fallen 81
lent, putting thoughtfully at his cigar
Holmes looked keenly at him
Anything remarka bic on hand?"
he asked.
ooh. no, Mr. Holmes-nothing very
particular"
Then tell me about it."
Lestrade laughed.
well, Mr.. Holmes, there is no use
denying that there is something on
my mind. And yet it is such an alb
surd business that hesitated to both
er you about it. On the other hand,
although it is trivial, it is undoubted-
ly queer, and l know that you have a
taste for all that is out of the COM
mon. But, in my opinion, it comes
more in DIR. Watson's line than ours. "
"Disease?" said l.
Madness, anyhow. And a queer
madness, too. You wouldn't think
there was anyone living at this time
of day who had such a hatred of Ma.
poleon the First that he would break
any image of him that he could see. "
Holmes sank back in his chair.
That's no business of mine" said
he.
Exactly. That's what l said. But
then, when the man commits burg
larry in order to break images which
are not his own, that brings it away
from the doctor and on to the police
man"
Holmes sat up again.
Burglary! This is more interest
ing. Let me hear the details
l. Lestrade took out his official note
book. and refreshed his memory IRON
The first case reported was foul
DAYS ago. said he. 1T was at the
shop of Morse Hudson, who has
place for the sale of pictures ane
statues in the Remington Road. Inc
assistant had left the front snop tol
an instant, when he heard crash
and hurrying in he found plasteI
bust of Napoleon, which stood witt
several other works of art upon the
counter. lying shivered into rag
ments. He rushed out into the road
but although several passersoy de
clared that they had noticed MAJ
run out of the shop, he could nelthe
see anyone nor could he tlnd an,
means of Identifying the rascal. l
i seemed to be one of those senseles
, acts of Hooliganism which occur iron
r time to time, and it was reported I
the constable on the beat as sucf
The plaster cast was not worth NOR
than a few shillings, and the Who'll
affair appeared to be too childish TO
any particular investigation.
, The second case, however, wa
more serious, and also more singulal
. 1t occurred only last night.
I'm Remington Road, and within
few hundred yards of Morse Hue
, sons shop, there lives we'll know
medical practitioner, named DR.. Bal
nicot, who has one of the largest pra'
tees upon the south side Of tn
Thames. His residence and primo
, pal consulting room is at kenningto
Road, but he has a branch surger
t and dispensary at Lower Brlxto
5 Road two miles away. This DR.. Ba
+, nicot is an enthusiastic admirer {
| Napoleon, and his house is full {
! books. pictures and relics OF tn
= French emperor. Some little tim
! ago he purchased from Morse HUI
I son two duplicate plaster casts of ii
:. famous head of Napoleon by Ii
e French sculptor Devine. One