August 5, 2025 • 21 mins
This detective series brings the adventures of the famous sleuth to life, solving complex cases with keen observation and deductive reasoning. The stories are rich in intrigue and suspense.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Vy she capital, my dear Watson, let us return to
our humble a two.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
To one b Baker eight carin.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
From London. We present The Reigate Squires, A day for
Radio by Michael Hardwick, based on a short story by
Sir Arthur Kernan Doyle, The Reigate Squires.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
I see from my notes that it was on the
fourteenth of April eighteen eighty seven that I received a
telegram from Lyons telling me that Sherlock Holmes was lying
ill there.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Within twenty four hours I was in his sickroom. His
iron constitution had broken down under the strain of a
two month's investigation.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
And when I got him back to two to one Bee.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Baker Sweet three days later, it became obvious to me
that for all his love of London, you will be
better off for a change in the country.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, how are we.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Feeling today, eh, I don't mind admitting it's left me
feeling a bit knocked up.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
A bit knocked up.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
You'll be working on fifteen hours day average through Watson through.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
And now you're paying a penalty.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Exhausted Still, I speard, all this is some compensation work there,
all these telegrams. Congratulations still coming in by the bucket
for those now really homes.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
You succeed where the police of three continents have failed.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
You outl over the most, the country's swindler in Europe
at every point, and all you can say is oh though,
let the politicians and the financiers do the rejoicing. The
Netherlands Sumatra Company and its affairs are things of the
past for me now. All I want, Watson, is a
good rest.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Well, I uh, a matter of homes. That's just what
I wanted to have a word with you about Colonel
Hayn old friend Deana mccre in Afghanistan. Well, he's taking
my house down there, right it. He keeps asking us
to go down for a bit of a break anytime
we like. He's just reinge the invitation.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And I thought a week or self springtime in the
country might be just the thing on about it. Eh.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I'm sure your friend means very well, Watson, springtime and
sorry delightful. But can you see me lounging about on
sofas being fussed to death by will meaning.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's a bachelor establishment home. Well, then hit of the
final soda in the world.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Talk whole night if you want to go Oh my,
but loads when to keep out of the way and
leave a man in.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Pieces, that's what he prefers.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
How are you say, homes, you suppose his breakfasts come
up to my standards? Oh, homes, Well, you'll come with
Pavier Watson, just as soon as you can arrange to
transport these weary old burdens of mind between baker streets.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
And ragged ah. What about this Dellinger Watson?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
A beauty here, one with a magnificent thing.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
He isn't it? I don't, I say? Hither you gather
quite an armory bushel heavy hum. Yes, the most impressive
collection I think, so, eh, well, never know when it
might come in handy in these parts. I mean. Well,
we've been having quite a scare lately.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Watson, oct, one of our local squires, had his house
burned into last Monday. No great damage, you know, but
the fellers are still at.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Clark, no clues. Colonel her not so.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Far renton sect his library, turn the whole place upside down.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Didn't get much of their pains though. What then? Well,
if I can remember, and it'll.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Make your love is two? Play did candlesticks and I
will let her wait? Small operometer.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
A board of twine. Who is a volume of Pope's Homer?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Well, the county police ought to be able to make
something of that.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
What surely it's of no, No, you're here for a risk,
remember dear me, Watson. Well, I suppose I've got to
do what you tell me for a change. Yes, that's right.
Holmes had this treatment for.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Him in the front eary. You know regular Martinez is Watson. Well,
thanks Bickness. Things were shifted.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Then I'll see your left in peace. It's going to
be a lovely yes, Charles, A big parton, sir, I
was just going to ring for you. Well, what's a
mether man?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Have you heard the US at the cunninghams Not another
burglary murderer?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Jo? Who the JP is so on? Neither sir? It
was William the coachman shot through the art. Who shot him? Oh?
It was a burglars got clean away. It just fought
the country window, they say, when William disturbed him, shot
him dead and made of it was his Charles. Well,
last night, sir, somewhere about twelve.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Dead business all right, Charles, these things were now I
ring for you later, very good, sir. Poor Cunningham leading
squire about here. Decent fellow can be cut up about this.
You know the men have been in hisself a year
might be one of the same times that broke into
the other place.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yes, I defended some local chapmans off.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Ecton's and Cunninghams are just the places he would go
for largest in these parts, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And the riches, well they ought to be. They've had
a lot of the blood suck out of him in
recent years. Oh, how's that.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Well, they've had a law suo gragging on for no
end of time. Old Exton has some claim on half
of Cunningham's. His take, the lawyers have been heated with
both heads. Well, if it's a local man, there shouldn't
be much difficulty in running into her. Inspector follister, Oh,
come in, inspector the morning knd of hate morning. I
(06:14):
hope I don't intrude her. But we hear mister Holmes
of Vegas streets here.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, there he is inspector, and this is doctor Watson.
I know he's the major.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Gentlemen, we we wondered if we could ask you to
step across, mister Holmes.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
You've heard the news, I expect. Now look here inspector.
As a medical man, I must tell you that my
friend is far from haha.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The fates are against Gill Watson. We were chatting about
the matter and you came in, inspector. Perhaps you'd care to
let us have a huge.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Detail, ye won't you take a sitar, inspector.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Oh, thank you sir. Well, mister Holmes, we had no
clue in the acton affair, but we've plenty to go
on this time.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Uh. The man was seen ah.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
When the alarm broke out, mister Cunningham had just got
into bed, and mister Alick Conningham, that's his son, was smoking.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
A pipe in his dressing room. They both heard.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
William the coachman called to help, and mister Alick ran
down in.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
His dressing gown.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
The that door was open, and as he got the
foot of the stairs he saw the two men wrestling
together outside. One of them private shot, the other dropped
to the ground, and the murderer was off across the
garden over the hitch. Mister Cunningham saw him too from
his bedroom window as he reached the road. Couldn't young
Erick catch him?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
It stopped to.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Do what he could for William, so the followed got
clean away a middle sized man dressed in some dark stuff.
That's the description we've got. E did William sailing before
he died?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
No, not a word.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I suppose he walked up from the lodge to make
sure everything was all secure.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Frightful fellow, you know, sir, Yes, yes, this acton business
certainly had us all.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
On our guard, and he called the chepard handed.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
It seems like it dot there. But one thing we
did get was this inspector. I see that for these certainly,
mister Holmes. It seems to be.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
A fragment of paper torn from a larger sheet. It
was between the dead man's finger and thumb. So either
the other chef tore the wrist of the paper out
of William's head, or William tore this bit from a
sheet he was holding.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
It.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Can't see what Eiram was doing waving sheets of paper about.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
All right.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
If you look at the words, though, it reads as
if it's been some sort of appointment. Looks her at
quarter to twelve. Then down here it says, learn what.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
This writing is of extraordinary interest?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
These are much deeper waters than I've thought. How's that,
mister Holmes?
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Do you reckon.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
There was some sort of understanding between William and the burglar.
William was to let him in, but they had a
quarrel instead. It's not entirely impossible, but this writing, no,
there's something about it that fascinates me. Hey, colonel, if
you will permit me, I'll leave Watson and you will
(09:06):
step dound to the inspector to put one or two
little senses of mind of the test.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
You'll do nothing of the sort. I shall let you
never fear Watson.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now deliver myself up to you in half an hour precisely,
not a minute longer.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Come along, Inspector. Let's be getting along.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Well. And about time, Inspector half an hour mister Holmes said,
that was exactly an hour and a half ago.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Where is it?
Speaker 1 (09:31):
I have a few words to say to him, Well,
doctor Watson as an actress.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Fact, he's not come back when you was anything, sir,
And mister Holmes.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Sent me back here to ask you gentlemen to join
him in the field outside. He was walking up and
down there when I left him. He wants us all
to go up to mister Cunningham's house together.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
What on earth for?
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Well, I have no idea Colonel between ourselves, Dr Watson,
I think you're right to be concerned about mister Holmes.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
He seems to be well all excited. I don't like
him with it all.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I've seen him behaving some pretty odd ways at times
when there's generally been some method behind his madness. Come on,
hayd let's go to you mout this lunatic of ours.
What my dear, Hello, I've had a charming morning this conflict.
That idea of yours was a capital suggestion.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, you've been up with to see the crime. I understand. Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Indeed, Colonel the inspector here and I made quite a
little reconnaissance together as we did any luck way over. Well,
we saw some very interesting things. I'll tell you what
we did as we walked.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Oh, I don't walk too far us.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
First of all, we saw the body of the unfortunate William.
There's no doubt that he died from a revolver. I
didn't know there was any question about that.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Oh, it's as well sub test everything, Colonel.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Our inspection wasn't wasted. Well, then we had an interview
with this Cunningham and his son. They were able to
point out the exact spot that the murderer broke through
the garden here.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
In his flight. That was of great interest. So what
your investigation dared up to them?
Speaker 1 (11:05):
The conviction of the crime is a very peculiar one.
Perhaps our visit now may do something to make it
less obscure. Well, let's hope so inspect that. I think
they both agreed that the fragment of paper in the
dead man's hand is of extreme importance. Well, mister Holmes,
it has got the very hour of death written.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
On it precisely? Whoever wrote that note of the man
who brought William out of his bed at dead Are?
But where's the rest of that sheet of paper? I
examine every ench of the ground nearby for it. It
was pawn out of the dead man's hands. Why was
someone so anxious to get possession of it? Because it
incriminated him just so? And what would he do with it?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Thrust it into his pocket, most likely never noticing that
the corner had been left in the rip.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Of the corpse. Then again, the man who wrote it
wouldn't have written it if he could have delivered the
message by word of mouth. So who brought it or
did it come through the post?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Now that I can tell you, sir, we found out
that William did get a letter by the afternoon post.
It seems to have thrown the envelope away, though, Capital
inspect that it's a pleasure to work with you.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Well, thank you, mister Holmes.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Ah and here's the house here a Cunningham and other
Cunningham nasty business, nasty.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Business, good day hate ah Dr? What's my presumer? This
is my son Eric? How do you do sir? How
do you know they're still? Edit?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Mister Holmes, it's me for you London as I could
have a player. Oh, you must give us a little.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Time, you know. Well, mister Cunningham, we have found one
thing there was he think it right away? You feeling
all right now? Jack? I can't apologize enough mister Cunningham.
(12:53):
I'm afraid it's another of these confounded nervous attacks. Yes, Dr,
what has been telling us? How ill you'll be? Wanted
to call my tat for you? Well, perhaps in a
little while you'd better be getting back homes. Since I
am here, there's one little point i'd like to be
sure about. We can easily verify. Oh very well, I.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Should like to ask mister Ellick Cullingham where he was
sitting when he heard William.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Call for help. I was smoking in my disting room.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
The lamps were lit, the yes, And doesn't it strike
you as extraordin that the burglar should break into a
house at a time and he could see from the
lights that the family was still at foot. A bit
of a cool customer, perhaps, possibly, Well, we'll leave their
speculation for the moment.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
There's something I'd like you to do, mister Cunningham, anything
at all. Mister Holmes, I should like you to offer
a reward.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
I've jutted down the bording here if you wouldn't mind
reading it and sinning, fifty pounds would be quite enough.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I think, certainly. I'll let me see it.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yes, thank you, I tell you, mister Holmes, I'd willingly
make it five hundred for that bumpinesss No, this is fine.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
But there's one little mistake.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Oh, I scribbled into the hurry you begin, whereas at
about quarter to one on Tuesday morning, and a tempt
was made, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Will as a matter of fact, it was a quarter
of the twill. Yeah me, of course, you're right.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I don't allow myself to make elementary mistakes like that,
mister Cunningham, do forgive me.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Oh, quite all right, I'll correct it. No, no, no, no,
I have a pencil here, Thank you Holmes. I must
instid know, my dear Watson, I still have a few reserves. Letter.
Now I suggest we all go over the house together. No,
I feel much better, oh, mister Cunningham. I'll just have that.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Note from my pocket book. This is, of course, of course,
thank you. And now let us take a good look
right well now, mister Holmes, this is my big here.
I see my son the next all with the dressing
room in between. Ah, yes, I should like to glance
(15:05):
into the dressing room if you please. Of course, if
you like, I should just like to see where the
windows fast. Now with your permission, very well, m yes,
I see, thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Now I think that is all. Yes, we can go
down up. Oh, no, after you, my dear sir, thank you, Oh,
my Colmes, it thank here.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
I'm afraid but you must have swept that the can't
hold for the quick man before the carpet.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Stay here, I use my hand, No no, no, I
use mine. I can't think how it happened. I'll help
you never mind, never mind, I'll ring for one of
the servants to mop it up. What up? I think?
Went home to the pair room? What's going down? The
(16:05):
General's gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Restrect hollow murder of that coachman, I say, home, don't
you get too far? No, colonel, Hater, if they who've
gone to par this piece of paper will assure you
that it's.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
A missing piece where you find it? It was where
I was certain it must be. Look how he's gonna do?
Drop that ad better? Ho, Miss Holmes says that something
in what you say. I'll be able to make the
home appelear you in a little while. Colonel, I suggest
(16:45):
you and Watson go home now.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Suddenly inspect them and I need a few words with
our prisoners, and then i'll rejoin you.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
If it's quite convenient. You may expect me that for luncheon.
There's glass a shady waiting boy. Oh stay too right anyway?
Can I knows you? Good day, Hater? I hope you
don't mind. Holmes asked me to come.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I wanted mister Ax and a bit present while I
demonstrated this small method to you.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
He has some call to be interested in the detail.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
I must say with all eager for this demonstration, homes Watson,
and I was just agreeing with Haven't some destin different
clue between us?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
To begin with?
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I must remind you that it is the highest importance
in the arts of detection to be able to recognize
which facts are incidental and which I'll vite quite close.
Now I haven't the slightest dust, but the key of
this whole mathe must be looked for in that scrap
of paper from the dead man's hands.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I have it here. Now I have another look at it, gentlemen,
don't you observe something very were dealing about it?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I can't say that I can. It's a pretty regular
sort of hand exactly. Of course he's better at in
my method.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
No, No, there cannot be the.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Least start in the world that the note was written
by two persons doing alternate words.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Eh.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Now, look at the torn portion of the note bearing
the words at quarter of the twelve. Observe the strong
teas of act and two. Compare them with those in
quarter and twelve.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
By jove, I see what you mean.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
But why should two men write a letter like this?
Obviously one of them distrusted the other. The idea was
that each of them should have an equal hand in
the business.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Of the two, i'd say the one who wrote Act
and two with the ringleader. However, can you say that
we might did you.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Sit familiar character the one hand as compared to the other,
if we had more assured reasons than that.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Now, if you examine the scrap with attention, he will
come to the conclusion that the man.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
With a stronger hand wrote all his word first and
left blanks for the other. That they're love. I see
the blank spent always big enough. No, look here, the second.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Man had squeezed, you see, to get the word quarter
in between the act and the two. So we conclude
that the man who wrote his words first planned the
whole affair.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Ahvo home. Magnificent bit of deduction, but very superficial. We
come down to a point which is of real importance.
You may be aware that the deduction.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Of a man's age from his writing is one which
has been brought to considerable accuracy by expert No indeed,
oh yes, mister Acton. In normal cases one can place
a man in his true decade with tolerable confidence. Remarkable,
I say normal cases because ill health and physical weakness
reproduced the signs.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Of old age, even when the invalid is young.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
In this case, looking at the bold, strong hand of
the one and the rather broken backs appearance of.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
The other, we can say that the one was a
young man and the other was advanced in years without
being positively decretic. Well, I never heard anything to touch this.
Did you read anything else in the hand writing? Oh?
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yes, we were at least twenty three other dedas, but
they'd be a voyant as to experts from the you colonels,
except perhaps that some of them revealed quite clearly that
the two writers were blood relative early. Oh, I've no
doubt at all that the family mannerism can be traced
in these two specimens of writing.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
It may be obvious to you in the Greek ease,
but to me there are many small points which indicate
the same thing.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Did you connected with the cunninghams inn? They naturally came
pretty quickly too my mind, Watson. Well, then I went
up to the house for the inspector and saw all
that was to be seen.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
The start brill, there was.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
The bullet wound, and the dead man. What about that
it had been caused by a shot from at least
four yards away. There was no powder blackening on the clothes.
Alec Cunningham had lied when he said the two men
had been.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Struggling when the shots was side. Ah.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Then both father and some agreed about the place where
the man had escaped into the road. There's a broadish
ditch at that point, moist at the bottom, but there
were no signs of marks anywhere. I was not na
sure that both the cummingoms had lied, but there'd be
no unknown man on the scene at door.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Did you mean to say that one of these shot
Williams find Hymn's name what they want to do there?
That was what I asked myself.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I began to think about the original burglary at your house,
mister egg, and I.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Remembered the colonel here telling us about a long standing
lawsuit between you and the Cunninghams. Yeah, yeah, that's right enough.
I have the clearest possible claim upon half their present
a sixth and by breaking into your library
Vy she capital, my dear Watson, let us return to
our humble a two.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
To one b Baker eight carin.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
From London. We present The Reigate Squires, A day for
Radio by Michael Hardwick, based on a short story by
Sir Arthur Kernan Doyle, The Reigate Squires.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
I see from my notes that it was on the
fourteenth of April eighteen eighty seven that I received a
telegram from Lyons telling me that Sherlock Holmes was lying
ill there.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Within twenty four hours I was in his sickroom. His
iron constitution had broken down under the strain of a
two month's investigation.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
And when I got him back to two to one Bee.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Baker Sweet three days later, it became obvious to me
that for all his love of London, you will be
better off for a change in the country.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, how are we.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Feeling today, eh, I don't mind admitting it's left me
feeling a bit knocked up.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
A bit knocked up.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
You'll be working on fifteen hours day average through Watson through.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
And now you're paying a penalty.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Exhausted Still, I speard, all this is some compensation work there,
all these telegrams. Congratulations still coming in by the bucket
for those now really homes.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
You succeed where the police of three continents have failed.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
You outl over the most, the country's swindler in Europe
at every point, and all you can say is oh though,
let the politicians and the financiers do the rejoicing. The
Netherlands Sumatra Company and its affairs are things of the
past for me now. All I want, Watson, is a
good rest.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Well, I uh, a matter of homes. That's just what
I wanted to have a word with you about Colonel
Hayn old friend Deana mccre in Afghanistan. Well, he's taking
my house down there, right it. He keeps asking us
to go down for a bit of a break anytime
we like. He's just reinge the invitation.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And I thought a week or self springtime in the
country might be just the thing on about it. Eh.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I'm sure your friend means very well, Watson, springtime and
sorry delightful. But can you see me lounging about on
sofas being fussed to death by will meaning.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's a bachelor establishment home. Well, then hit of the
final soda in the world.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Talk whole night if you want to go Oh my,
but loads when to keep out of the way and
leave a man in.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Pieces, that's what he prefers.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
How are you say, homes, you suppose his breakfasts come
up to my standards? Oh, homes, Well, you'll come with
Pavier Watson, just as soon as you can arrange to
transport these weary old burdens of mind between baker streets.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
And ragged ah. What about this Dellinger Watson?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
A beauty here, one with a magnificent thing.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
He isn't it? I don't, I say? Hither you gather
quite an armory bushel heavy hum. Yes, the most impressive
collection I think, so, eh, well, never know when it
might come in handy in these parts. I mean. Well,
we've been having quite a scare lately.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Watson, oct, one of our local squires, had his house
burned into last Monday. No great damage, you know, but
the fellers are still at.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Clark, no clues. Colonel her not so.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Far renton sect his library, turn the whole place upside down.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Didn't get much of their pains though. What then? Well,
if I can remember, and it'll.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Make your love is two? Play did candlesticks and I
will let her wait? Small operometer.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
A board of twine. Who is a volume of Pope's Homer?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Well, the county police ought to be able to make
something of that.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
What surely it's of no, No, you're here for a risk,
remember dear me, Watson. Well, I suppose I've got to
do what you tell me for a change. Yes, that's right.
Holmes had this treatment for.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Him in the front eary. You know regular Martinez is Watson. Well,
thanks Bickness. Things were shifted.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Then I'll see your left in peace. It's going to
be a lovely yes, Charles, A big parton, sir, I
was just going to ring for you. Well, what's a
mether man?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Have you heard the US at the cunninghams Not another
burglary murderer?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Jo? Who the JP is so on? Neither sir? It
was William the coachman shot through the art. Who shot him? Oh?
It was a burglars got clean away. It just fought
the country window, they say, when William disturbed him, shot
him dead and made of it was his Charles. Well,
last night, sir, somewhere about twelve.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Dead business all right, Charles, these things were now I
ring for you later, very good, sir. Poor Cunningham leading
squire about here. Decent fellow can be cut up about this.
You know the men have been in hisself a year
might be one of the same times that broke into
the other place.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yes, I defended some local chapmans off.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Ecton's and Cunninghams are just the places he would go
for largest in these parts, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And the riches, well they ought to be. They've had
a lot of the blood suck out of him in
recent years. Oh, how's that.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Well, they've had a law suo gragging on for no
end of time. Old Exton has some claim on half
of Cunningham's. His take, the lawyers have been heated with
both heads. Well, if it's a local man, there shouldn't
be much difficulty in running into her. Inspector follister, Oh,
come in, inspector the morning knd of hate morning. I
(06:14):
hope I don't intrude her. But we hear mister Holmes
of Vegas streets here.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, there he is inspector, and this is doctor Watson.
I know he's the major.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Gentlemen, we we wondered if we could ask you to
step across, mister Holmes.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
You've heard the news, I expect. Now look here inspector.
As a medical man, I must tell you that my
friend is far from haha.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The fates are against Gill Watson. We were chatting about
the matter and you came in, inspector. Perhaps you'd care to
let us have a huge.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Detail, ye won't you take a sitar, inspector.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Oh, thank you sir. Well, mister Holmes, we had no
clue in the acton affair, but we've plenty to go
on this time.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Uh. The man was seen ah.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
When the alarm broke out, mister Cunningham had just got
into bed, and mister Alick Conningham, that's his son, was smoking.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
A pipe in his dressing room. They both heard.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
William the coachman called to help, and mister Alick ran
down in.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
His dressing gown.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
The that door was open, and as he got the
foot of the stairs he saw the two men wrestling
together outside. One of them private shot, the other dropped
to the ground, and the murderer was off across the
garden over the hitch. Mister Cunningham saw him too from
his bedroom window as he reached the road. Couldn't young
Erick catch him?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
It stopped to.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Do what he could for William, so the followed got
clean away a middle sized man dressed in some dark stuff.
That's the description we've got. E did William sailing before
he died?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
No, not a word.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I suppose he walked up from the lodge to make
sure everything was all secure.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Frightful fellow, you know, sir, Yes, yes, this acton business
certainly had us all.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
On our guard, and he called the chepard handed.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
It seems like it dot there. But one thing we
did get was this inspector. I see that for these certainly,
mister Holmes. It seems to be.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
A fragment of paper torn from a larger sheet. It
was between the dead man's finger and thumb. So either
the other chef tore the wrist of the paper out
of William's head, or William tore this bit from a
sheet he was holding.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
It.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Can't see what Eiram was doing waving sheets of paper about.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
All right.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
If you look at the words, though, it reads as
if it's been some sort of appointment. Looks her at
quarter to twelve. Then down here it says, learn what.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
This writing is of extraordinary interest?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
These are much deeper waters than I've thought. How's that,
mister Holmes?
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Do you reckon.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
There was some sort of understanding between William and the burglar.
William was to let him in, but they had a
quarrel instead. It's not entirely impossible, but this writing, no,
there's something about it that fascinates me. Hey, colonel, if
you will permit me, I'll leave Watson and you will
(09:06):
step dound to the inspector to put one or two
little senses of mind of the test.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
You'll do nothing of the sort. I shall let you
never fear Watson.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now deliver myself up to you in half an hour precisely,
not a minute longer.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Come along, Inspector. Let's be getting along.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Well. And about time, Inspector half an hour mister Holmes said,
that was exactly an hour and a half ago.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Where is it?
Speaker 1 (09:31):
I have a few words to say to him, Well,
doctor Watson as an actress.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Fact, he's not come back when you was anything, sir,
And mister Holmes.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Sent me back here to ask you gentlemen to join
him in the field outside. He was walking up and
down there when I left him. He wants us all
to go up to mister Cunningham's house together.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
What on earth for?
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Well, I have no idea Colonel between ourselves, Dr Watson,
I think you're right to be concerned about mister Holmes.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
He seems to be well all excited. I don't like
him with it all.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I've seen him behaving some pretty odd ways at times
when there's generally been some method behind his madness. Come on,
hayd let's go to you mout this lunatic of ours.
What my dear, Hello, I've had a charming morning this conflict.
That idea of yours was a capital suggestion.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, you've been up with to see the crime. I understand. Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Indeed, Colonel the inspector here and I made quite a
little reconnaissance together as we did any luck way over. Well,
we saw some very interesting things. I'll tell you what
we did as we walked.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Oh, I don't walk too far us.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
First of all, we saw the body of the unfortunate William.
There's no doubt that he died from a revolver. I
didn't know there was any question about that.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Oh, it's as well sub test everything, Colonel.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Our inspection wasn't wasted. Well, then we had an interview
with this Cunningham and his son. They were able to
point out the exact spot that the murderer broke through
the garden here.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
In his flight. That was of great interest. So what
your investigation dared up to them?
Speaker 1 (11:05):
The conviction of the crime is a very peculiar one.
Perhaps our visit now may do something to make it
less obscure. Well, let's hope so inspect that. I think
they both agreed that the fragment of paper in the
dead man's hand is of extreme importance. Well, mister Holmes,
it has got the very hour of death written.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
On it precisely? Whoever wrote that note of the man
who brought William out of his bed at dead Are?
But where's the rest of that sheet of paper? I
examine every ench of the ground nearby for it. It
was pawn out of the dead man's hands. Why was
someone so anxious to get possession of it? Because it
incriminated him just so? And what would he do with it?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Thrust it into his pocket, most likely never noticing that
the corner had been left in the rip.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Of the corpse. Then again, the man who wrote it
wouldn't have written it if he could have delivered the
message by word of mouth. So who brought it or
did it come through the post?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Now that I can tell you, sir, we found out
that William did get a letter by the afternoon post.
It seems to have thrown the envelope away, though, Capital
inspect that it's a pleasure to work with you.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Well, thank you, mister Holmes.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Ah and here's the house here a Cunningham and other
Cunningham nasty business, nasty.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Business, good day hate ah Dr? What's my presumer? This
is my son Eric? How do you do sir? How
do you know they're still? Edit?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Mister Holmes, it's me for you London as I could
have a player. Oh, you must give us a little.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Time, you know. Well, mister Cunningham, we have found one
thing there was he think it right away? You feeling
all right now? Jack? I can't apologize enough mister Cunningham.
(12:53):
I'm afraid it's another of these confounded nervous attacks. Yes, Dr,
what has been telling us? How ill you'll be? Wanted
to call my tat for you? Well, perhaps in a
little while you'd better be getting back homes. Since I
am here, there's one little point i'd like to be
sure about. We can easily verify. Oh very well, I.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Should like to ask mister Ellick Cullingham where he was
sitting when he heard William.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Call for help. I was smoking in my disting room.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
The lamps were lit, the yes, And doesn't it strike
you as extraordin that the burglar should break into a
house at a time and he could see from the
lights that the family was still at foot. A bit
of a cool customer, perhaps, possibly, Well, we'll leave their
speculation for the moment.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
There's something I'd like you to do, mister Cunningham, anything
at all. Mister Holmes, I should like you to offer
a reward.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
I've jutted down the bording here if you wouldn't mind
reading it and sinning, fifty pounds would be quite enough.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I think, certainly. I'll let me see it.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yes, thank you, I tell you, mister Holmes, I'd willingly
make it five hundred for that bumpinesss No, this is fine.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
But there's one little mistake.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Oh, I scribbled into the hurry you begin, whereas at
about quarter to one on Tuesday morning, and a tempt
was made, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Will as a matter of fact, it was a quarter
of the twill. Yeah me, of course, you're right.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I don't allow myself to make elementary mistakes like that,
mister Cunningham, do forgive me.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Oh, quite all right, I'll correct it. No, no, no, no,
I have a pencil here, Thank you Holmes. I must
instid know, my dear Watson, I still have a few reserves. Letter.
Now I suggest we all go over the house together. No,
I feel much better, oh, mister Cunningham. I'll just have that.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Note from my pocket book. This is, of course, of course,
thank you. And now let us take a good look
right well now, mister Holmes, this is my big here.
I see my son the next all with the dressing
room in between. Ah, yes, I should like to glance
(15:05):
into the dressing room if you please. Of course, if
you like, I should just like to see where the
windows fast. Now with your permission, very well, m yes,
I see, thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Now I think that is all. Yes, we can go
down up. Oh, no, after you, my dear sir, thank you, Oh,
my Colmes, it thank here.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
I'm afraid but you must have swept that the can't
hold for the quick man before the carpet.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Stay here, I use my hand, No no, no, I
use mine. I can't think how it happened. I'll help
you never mind, never mind, I'll ring for one of
the servants to mop it up. What up? I think?
Went home to the pair room? What's going down? The
(16:05):
General's gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Restrect hollow murder of that coachman, I say, home, don't
you get too far? No, colonel, Hater, if they who've
gone to par this piece of paper will assure you
that it's.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
A missing piece where you find it? It was where
I was certain it must be. Look how he's gonna do?
Drop that ad better? Ho, Miss Holmes says that something
in what you say. I'll be able to make the
home appelear you in a little while. Colonel, I suggest
(16:45):
you and Watson go home now.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Suddenly inspect them and I need a few words with
our prisoners, and then i'll rejoin you.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
If it's quite convenient. You may expect me that for luncheon.
There's glass a shady waiting boy. Oh stay too right anyway?
Can I knows you? Good day, Hater? I hope you
don't mind. Holmes asked me to come.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I wanted mister Ax and a bit present while I
demonstrated this small method to you.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
He has some call to be interested in the detail.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
I must say with all eager for this demonstration, homes Watson,
and I was just agreeing with Haven't some destin different
clue between us?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
To begin with?
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I must remind you that it is the highest importance
in the arts of detection to be able to recognize
which facts are incidental and which I'll vite quite close.
Now I haven't the slightest dust, but the key of
this whole mathe must be looked for in that scrap
of paper from the dead man's hands.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I have it here. Now I have another look at it, gentlemen,
don't you observe something very were dealing about it?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I can't say that I can. It's a pretty regular
sort of hand exactly. Of course he's better at in
my method.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
No, No, there cannot be the.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Least start in the world that the note was written
by two persons doing alternate words.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Eh.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Now, look at the torn portion of the note bearing
the words at quarter of the twelve. Observe the strong
teas of act and two. Compare them with those in
quarter and twelve.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
By jove, I see what you mean.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
But why should two men write a letter like this?
Obviously one of them distrusted the other. The idea was
that each of them should have an equal hand in
the business.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Of the two, i'd say the one who wrote Act
and two with the ringleader. However, can you say that
we might did you.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Sit familiar character the one hand as compared to the other,
if we had more assured reasons than that.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Now, if you examine the scrap with attention, he will
come to the conclusion that the man.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
With a stronger hand wrote all his word first and
left blanks for the other. That they're love. I see
the blank spent always big enough. No, look here, the second.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Man had squeezed, you see, to get the word quarter
in between the act and the two. So we conclude
that the man who wrote his words first planned the
whole affair.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Ahvo home. Magnificent bit of deduction, but very superficial. We
come down to a point which is of real importance.
You may be aware that the deduction.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Of a man's age from his writing is one which
has been brought to considerable accuracy by expert No indeed,
oh yes, mister Acton. In normal cases one can place
a man in his true decade with tolerable confidence. Remarkable,
I say normal cases because ill health and physical weakness
reproduced the signs.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Of old age, even when the invalid is young.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
In this case, looking at the bold, strong hand of
the one and the rather broken backs appearance of.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
The other, we can say that the one was a
young man and the other was advanced in years without
being positively decretic. Well, I never heard anything to touch this.
Did you read anything else in the hand writing? Oh?
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yes, we were at least twenty three other dedas, but
they'd be a voyant as to experts from the you colonels,
except perhaps that some of them revealed quite clearly that
the two writers were blood relative early. Oh, I've no
doubt at all that the family mannerism can be traced
in these two specimens of writing.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
It may be obvious to you in the Greek ease,
but to me there are many small points which indicate
the same thing.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Did you connected with the cunninghams inn? They naturally came
pretty quickly too my mind, Watson. Well, then I went
up to the house for the inspector and saw all
that was to be seen.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
The start brill, there was.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
The bullet wound, and the dead man. What about that
it had been caused by a shot from at least
four yards away. There was no powder blackening on the clothes.
Alec Cunningham had lied when he said the two men
had been.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Struggling when the shots was side. Ah.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Then both father and some agreed about the place where
the man had escaped into the road. There's a broadish
ditch at that point, moist at the bottom, but there
were no signs of marks anywhere. I was not na
sure that both the cummingoms had lied, but there'd be
no unknown man on the scene at door.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Did you mean to say that one of these shot
Williams find Hymn's name what they want to do there?
That was what I asked myself.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I began to think about the original burglary at your house,
mister egg, and I.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Remembered the colonel here telling us about a long standing
lawsuit between you and the Cunninghams. Yeah, yeah, that's right enough.
I have the clearest possible claim upon half their present
a sixth and by breaking into your library
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