August 19, 2025 • 25 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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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Nations of Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The original and Immortal stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
dramatized Dunn. You were Sir John Gilbert and Sherlock Holmes,
and Sir Ralph Richardson as our storyteller, Doctor James Watson.
Many of the cases of Sherlock Holmes were private affairs
that made no stir outside the family circles involved.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
But the disappearance of.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Silver Blaze was a matter which set the whole country
by the ears. For not merely had this horse, the
favorite for the Wessex Cup, vanished for a week before
the great race, but his trainer had also been tragically murdered.
Give it a.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Small villa about two hundred yards from.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
The stable, and see who has some newspapers there, Watson.
Let's see what they have to say about the matter.
Oh well, here's here's the morning post it. Yes, sir,
The horses had been exercised and watered as usual, and
the stables locked up. At nine o'clock towld the lads
(01:09):
walked up to the trainer's house, where they had supper
in the kitchen, while the third near the hunter, remained
on guard.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
A few minutes after nine, the maid Edith.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Baxter, carried his supper dish of curried mutton down to
the stables. As the path ran over the open wor.
She carried a lantern with her. About thirty yards away
from the stables, a man appeared out of the darkness
and called to her to stop. Excuse me, Can you
(01:44):
tell me where I am?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I had almost made up my mind to.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Step on the moor when I saw your lantern.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
You are a close to King's piling training stable, sir.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I am what a stirp of blood? I understand that
the stable boys sleeps their learning the night. They had said,
his suffer carrying, Yes, sir, well, it'll be getting called yes.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
But you wouldn't be too proud to her in the
price of a new dress, now, would job? See? The
boy gets the sack note to night, and you have
the prettiest dress that money can buy. Let me pass her.
I'm not getting enough to anybody.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
The girl was frightened by his mamma, and she ran
past him to the stable window hatch through which she
always used to hand the boy his needles. The hatch
was already open and the boy was waiting inside. She
had just begun to tell him what had happened. When
the stranger came up again.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Day, I wanted to have a word with you, But
what what what business? If your business?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
It may put something in your pocket through two horses
in for the Wessex cups over bears and they are
it may have a straight tipany one for the rosa.
It is the fact that it's the waits they are
could give the other the hand of charms.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
So so you're one of them, gent out, Well, I'll
show her. We served them at King's Pilant. Just wait,
my set the dog free ruga rubber. The boy ran
to unleash the dog, and the maid hurried forward of
the house, but looking back she saw the stranger leaning
in through the stable window. A minute later, when a
(03:24):
hunter rushed out with the dog, the stranger was gone. Yes,
that's as far as we can get through the morning post.
I'm afraid missus Hudson very stupidly used the other half
of the paper to light the farthest morning I'm sorry,
Oh no, madam, my dear fellow. The Telegraph has also
covered the color of bullifully head.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
If he had.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
A hunter on the return of his fellow brooms sent
a message after the trainer Straker to tell him what
has happened. Straker seems to have been vaguely uneasy about
the matter, for although he'd been to bed, he got
up again at one o'clock in the morning, telling his
wife that he was going down to the stable to
see if all was well.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
He put on a macintosh, for it was raining heavily, and.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Left the house with quite a wealth of detail, my
dear Watson, and here I have the notes of Missus
Straker's statements.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
After her husband had.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Gone out, she went back to sleep again and didn't
wait until seven o'clock in the morning. Finding him still absent,
she called the maid and they set off together for
the stables. They found the door wide open. Inside, huddled
on a chair was Hunter in a state of complete stupor.
(04:37):
The lads in the loft overhead had had nothing all night,
but the favorite store was empty, and there was no sign.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Of the trailer.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Hunter obviously been run undubtedly. Missus Straker and the maid
left him and ran up to the moor to see
whether the Straker had merely taken the horse out for exercise,
and so the murder was discovered spills you read me
the rest of Missus Straker's strapman, Oh well, there's hurt sis.
But some quarter of a mile from the stable, Missus
(05:08):
Straker and the maid found Straker's coat flapping from a
furze bush. Immediately beyond there was a blue shaped depression.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
On the moor, and at the bottom of this John
Straker's body was found, his.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Head shattered by a savage blow from some heavy weapon,
wounded in the fire a long.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
King cut, evidently inflicted by some sharp in.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Straker had obviously tried to defend himself from.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
In his left hand he.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Grasped a red and black silk clavette, which.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Was recognized by the maid as having been worn by.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
The stranger who had spoken to her outside the stables,
until the stable boy also identified it when he recovered
from the effects of the drug. This was apparently powdered opium,
which had been put.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Into his carried.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Nothing of that that explains what the stranger was doing
is in length through the stable window. For the lads
who were at the same heel at the trainer's house
were quite all right, so only one place had been drugged.
It goes on the sailor were abundant proofs in the
mud which lay at the bottom of the fatal hollow,
but the.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Missing horse, silver Blaze, had been there at the time
of the struggle.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Well, Watson, let a start our little journey quite agreeably,
and here.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We are terystant.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Terrestock lies like the boss of a shield in the
middle of the huge circle of Dartmoor. Two gentlemen were
waiting for us at the station, silver Blaze's owner a
well known sportsman, Colonel ross An Inspector Gregory of Scotland Yard.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I'm delighted that you've come down, mister Holmes.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
But the Inspector here has done all that could possibly
be suggested about. I wish to leave no stone unto
and in find you a venged bosh paker and recover
my heart. I trust that I may be able to
assist yourself. Has there been in a fresh development, I'm
sorry to sir.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
We've made very little progress.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
As you know, we have had nowhere difficulty in tracing
the stranger. He was well known in the neighborhood. His
name is Fitzroy Simpson, man who has come down in
the world and lives by a little quiet and gentle
book making in the London Club. His books showed he
was carrying bits up the five thousand pounds against the favorite.
(07:31):
When confronted with the cravati, turned very pale and was
utterly unable to account for its.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Presence in the hand of the murdered man.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Of course, Drakler himself was wounded, wasn't he in the thigh?
He may have wounded himself in the convulsive struggles which
follow any brain injury. Excellent, my dear Watson, It's more
than possible.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
It's probable, in.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Which case one of the main points in favor of
the accused disappeared. A minute later, we're all seated in
a comfortable land, and we're rolling through the quaint old devil.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Chatwn clever council will tear your case to rags.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Why should Simpson take the horse out of the stable
if he wished to injure it, he could do it.
There has a duplicate key to the stable door been
found in his possession? What chemist told him the part
of opium above? Or where could he he is a
stranger to the district hide a horse, and such a
horse as this.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Tell me?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
What is his own explanation as for the note which
he wished the maid to get to the stable boy.
He says it was a ten pound note, that one
was found in his purse.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Also, he is not a stranger to the district.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
He's twice large at Tavistock in the summer. The oak
hum he probably brought with him from London. The key,
having served its turn, will be hurled away.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
As for the horse, they you're.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Well lie at the bottom of one of the pits
or old mines upon the moor.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
What does he say about the crevette?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
He admits that it's his and says that he lost it.
But a new element has been introduced into the case,
which mayor country is leading a horse from the stable.
We found traces that show the party of Gypsy's encamped
on Monday night within a mile of the spot where
the murder took place. On Tuesday they were gone. Simpson
(09:18):
may well have been leading a horse to them when.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
He was overtaken. It's certainly possible ed the moor has
been scarred for them.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Meanwhile, I've examined Entry's table and outhouse in Tavistock, and
for a wagius of.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Ten miles there's another training stable quite close.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I believe yes, and that's a factor we must certainly
not neglect as desbre As their horse was second in
the betting. They had an interest in the disappearance of
the Silver Blaze. Silas Brown their trainer, he is known
have had large bets from the event, and he was
no friend of poor Straco. However, we've examined his tables
(09:57):
and there's nothing.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
To connect him with the affair, and.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Nothing to connect to Try Simpson with their interests, nothing
at all. Ah, Well, here we are. Our driver pulled
up at a little red brick pillar which stood by
the road. Colonel Ross asked Holmes whether he would like
to go on to the scene of the crime. No,
(10:21):
I think I prefer to stay here a little while
and go into one or two questions of detail. Taker
was brought back here.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
I suppose yes, he lies upstairs. The inquest is tomorrow.
He's been in your service some years, Colonel.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I've always found him an excellent servant.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I presumed you made an inventory of what he had
in his pockets at the diame of his death, Inspector.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
I had the things themselves here in the sitting room, Tiller,
a box of matches, twoinges of tallow candle, pencil case,
a few papers.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
And the ivory handled knife.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, very singular knife, Watson. Surely in your life is
what we call a catillact knife used for surgical purposes,
including very delicate operations. A strange thing for a man
to carry with him on a rough expedition.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Why don't even shut up to go into his pocket?
The tip was.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Guarded by a cork which was found beside his body.
His wife tells us that he kept it for some
days in the dressing table and picked it up as.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
He left the room.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
A poor weapon, but perhaps the best he could lay
his hands on at the moment.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
And the paper hey dealer's accounts.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
This letter from Colonel Ross and this dressmaker's account for
thirty seven pounds fifteen made out by Madame Lejure of
Bond Street. I see that bill, please, certainly it's made
out through William Derbysher. William Derbysher, Missus Straker tells us
he was a friend of her husband, and that occasionally
(11:50):
letters for him will address here.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Had he been staying here then did Missus Straker know him?
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I gather not, But here is Missus Straker. Jolick Holmes
missus Straker.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
How do you do, sir? How do you do? Missus Straker?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Surely we've met before as a garden party in Plymouth recently, Now, sir, you.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Must be mistaken. I could have sworn it.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
You wore a costume of dove colored colored silk with
ostrich feather trimmings. Never had such addressed, sir.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Well that's settles he excuse me, sir, like a word
with a colonel. Of course, I'll leave with you in
a moment to.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Holmes, Oh, Inspector Holmes, I believe you got your hand
on a clue.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Or do you?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
As a matter of fact, I was just remembering a
really excellent curry we once set together in so Ho.
Sherlock Holmes next up to be shown the part where
(13:01):
the murder had been committed. A short walk, cross and
work brought us to the hollow in which the body
had been found.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
At the brink of it was the third bush upon.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Which the making tooch belonging to the murdered man had
been hung. There was no wind that night, I understand,
none but deaddy had arranged. And well, in that case
the coat was not blown against the third bushes.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
It must have been placed there.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, it was laid across the bush.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Very interesting. In this bag, I have one of.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
The boots which straker wall, one of Fitzroy's, Simpson's shoes,
and the cursed horse shoe of silver blade. Right, dear
respector you surpass yourself. Holmes took the bag, and descending
into the hollow, he made a careful study of the
trampled mud in front of him.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Hello, what's fifth the spent match next to the dike?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Counting how I came to miss it? It was invisible,
buried in the mud. I only find it because I
was looking for it.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
But you expected to find it.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
I thought it not unlikely. You will have searched the
ferns round the rim of the hollow for any more tracks.
Of course, I'm afraid there are none. I've examined the
ground very carefully for a hundred guards in each direction.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Good. Then I will take a little.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Walk over the moors before it grows dark, and I
think I'll put this horseshoe in my pocket just for luck.
I suppose you know your own death at best. I
suppose perhaps you'll come back with the inspector. And there
are several matters on which I need your advice, especially
as to whether we own to the public to scratch
so the bags from the Wessex Cup certainly not.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Colonel, I should let the name stand.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I am very glad to have your opinions, which will
see you later on. When you finished your walk, Boss
and the Inspector.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Went back to the villa, our homesy walked soarlier across
the moor.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
He may leave the question of who killed John Straker
at the moment, and and find ourselves to finding out
what had become of the horse. Now, supposing he broke
away during or after the tragedy, where could he have
got to? Almost anywhere on dart Or. I should imagine
jour knows horses a be gurious animal. If left to himself,
(15:16):
his instincts would have been able to return to King's
Thailand or go all over to Caperton yonder.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Why should he run wilder on the moor. He's not
at King's Thailand.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
He must be over there at Campleton. Come along, We're
not far to go. And as we approached the gates
of Capleton we met a groom coming.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Out of them. We don't want the lawyers round here.
I only wanted to ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Would I be too early to see your master, mister
Silas Brown? If I were recall here at five o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Why bless you? If anyone's about, it'll be him.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
He's always the first churring this this?
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Are you there? What would you want here? Ten minutes?
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Talk with you, my good sir, I've no time to
talk to everything about. If we don't want stranger there
be off you. I find a doggerty. Here's one word
in your ear, my friend, in your own interest.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
It's a lie, an infernal life.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Very good? Shall we argue about it here in public?
Or talk it over in your parlor?
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Or do I go to the.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Police just twenty minutes before he returned? It should be
done to just if you wish it. There must be
no mistake. Oh no, they should be then a mistake
it should be there. Should I change it first or not? No? No, don't.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I'll write to you about that. No tricks now, now
you can trust me? You can trust me? Yes, I
think I can.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Well.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
You shall hear from me tomorrow. Good day, do you?
Good day? Sir?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
You see what's a more perfect compound of the bully colored.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
And sneak than Master Silace, but I've seldom met with
he has the horse tim Or. He tried to bluster
it out, but.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I told him so exactly what his actions had been.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
That means that he's convinced.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I was actually watching him first a stain force wandering
on and went out to it when he's very nice
little day because I sat.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
It returned to the Pilmcule, which he had to do.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
But then he realized that if the horse would only
be hidden, and after the Wessex Cup, his own horse
desbro and allmust certainly wind.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
So he changed his mind and turned.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Back halfway brought Silver Blaze down to his own stable.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
But I thought his tables as being covered a sore
or old horse. Faker like him has many a dodge
and around tew afraid to leave the horse in his power.
Now he seed every interest in injuring it.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
My dear fellow, he guarded like the apple of his eye.
He knows that his only hope of mercy is to
produce it safely at the race tack for the Wessex Cup.
I made that persic appear to him. But I have
a little trick to play on ternel Ross who may
have noticed that his manner to me was just trustle caroleer.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
So neither of us, please, for the present, will say
anything to him about the horse or a certain amuntitude wishes.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
However, and of course this is all quite a minor
matter compared with the question of who killed John Staker,
and you will devote yourself to that in the meantime.
On the contrary, we'll both go back to London by
the night chair. I was thunder struck by my friend's word.
It'd only been a few hours in Devanter, but he
(18:26):
should give up an investigation which had begne so brilliant
it was quite incomprehensible to me. Not one word more
could I draw from him until we were back of
the plainer's house, where the Colonel and the insector were
waiting for us. My friend and I returned to town
by the midnight express. We've had a charming little breath
of your darts were air, so you were despaired of
(18:48):
arresting the Drosport take us.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
There are certainly great difficulties in the way.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
I have every help, however, that your horse would be
as the race back next Tuesday, and I beg that
you have your jockey in readiness. Oh now I take
this photograph of John Straker with me back to town.
The wed inspector, I'm rather disappointed in our London consultants,
and I don't need to put any star with the way.
He came released your head an assurance that Joe horse
(19:14):
will run next week.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Years I had his assurance, I.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Should prefer to have my horse.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
We went outside, Goodbye.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Goodbye, colonel. I hope to see you with the Wessex
Cup and Silver Blaze. Four days later, Holmes and I
thought silver Blaze win the Westx Cup by a good
six lengths, but was not a silver Blaze that even
its owner could recognize, with no taste to be seen
(19:43):
as a famous white splash on its hoddead or of
the muffled off folly. The silver Blade that won the Wessex.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Cup was a powerful day. It was only in the
way and soda after the race.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
But the plans began to explain to a colonel it
is completely bewildered. He order to wash his space in
his leg in silitab wine and he would find that
he's just the same old silver Blazer.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Ever, you should take my breath away as I find
him in the.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Hands of a taker, and took the liberty of running
him just as he was sent over.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
My DearS, Are you done, wonders?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I owe you a thousand of policies. You've done here
very great service by recovering my horse. You would be
here a greater skill if you.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Could lay your hands on the murderer, John Staker. I've
done so, you done so, have got him. But the
way here he's in a hard company at because of
the moment.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
That is either a very bad joke, mister Holmes, or
is it really insult I'm not the Duke. The real
murderer is standing immediately before.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
You the horse. The horse sold the blaze himself.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
It may less from the guilt if I say that
the killing was done entirely in self descend, and that
John's taker was a man who was quite unworthy of
your confidence. There goes the bell, And as I stand
to win a little on the next race, I shall
defer a lengthier explanation till a more fitting time. But
(21:25):
not until we were on our way back to London.
The homes will get down to these explanations. Despite the
impatience of both the Colonel and myself. I must success
that I even suspect to situy Sinston myself for the time.
It is only when I reached the Painer's house with
the immense significance of the curried mutton.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Occurred the curriage mutton.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Even when you mentioned our sole whole meal exactly, powdered
opium has a disagreeable and perceptible flavor. Only something more
strongly flavored, like a curry could have disguised the taste. Now,
Fitzwright Crimson would never have known that the nido deserving
the stable lab of the cuddy that night. The only
people would have known that for people in my house,
(22:09):
But who could have taken advantage of the back. Then
there was the silence of the dog. When the horse
was staying from the stable. It failed the bark because
he knew beating in from the boss. I was already
quite convinced that the impruder must have been John Straker himself.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
John Staker himself, But why did you wish to take
Silver Blaze out on to the moor and the dead
of night?
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Un Secretly, the answer to that was in John's sacred pocket.
The dressmakers built besides the addressed to William Darbyshire. That
set me thinking perhaps John s Baker was leading a
double life. After all, his wife confirmed that the expensive
costume wasn't for her, and by recognizing the person that
I showed her, Madame Rosierier, the dressmaker, later confirmed that
(22:53):
John's taker had indeed bought it there to give to
a woman a more expensive taste than.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
In fact, John Staker was leading a double knife and
was in there's financial shade.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
In John's streaker. I can scarcely believe him. The knife
gave me.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
The final too.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
It was the surgical knife, such as could be used
to lame a horse with us leaving an invisible evidence.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Of foul play.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
By laying the silver blaze and betting on desbra John
Faker would have been able to retrieve his portable the candle,
and then I busted.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
He led the horse out.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Onto the moor so that when he cut its timbom,
its plunging wouldn't waken the gooms overhead. In order he
told see what he was get to do, he needed
a candle so that the campbell should not be seen.
He led the horse to the hollow. In lighting the campbell,
he dropped that spent match in the mud. Unfortunately for him,
the knight must have scare the horse, unless it was instinct.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Whichever it was, the horse.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Lashed out and its steel shoe Colt straker full in
the forest. He had already taken off his macintosh to
be fear, and as he fell gashed his sigh on
his own knife.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
I guess he might have been that one and the
Corvette Victory Simpson, which was in the dead man's hand.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Cimpton said that he lost it. No, God he did
three time. Must have found it and picked it up,
perhaps with the idea of using it to secure a
horse's leg. Well that's disclosure of everything, right, spo. I
haven't taken a while away the rest of this journey
idea Watson with a game of chess. The Adventures of
(24:31):
Sherlock Pols, based on the original stories of Sir Arthur
coland Doyle, have been dramatized on You with original music
composed by Sidley cors four
Nations of Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The original and Immortal stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
dramatized Dunn. You were Sir John Gilbert and Sherlock Holmes,
and Sir Ralph Richardson as our storyteller, Doctor James Watson.
Many of the cases of Sherlock Holmes were private affairs
that made no stir outside the family circles involved.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
But the disappearance of.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Silver Blaze was a matter which set the whole country
by the ears. For not merely had this horse, the
favorite for the Wessex Cup, vanished for a week before
the great race, but his trainer had also been tragically murdered.
Give it a.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Small villa about two hundred yards from.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
The stable, and see who has some newspapers there, Watson.
Let's see what they have to say about the matter.
Oh well, here's here's the morning post it. Yes, sir,
The horses had been exercised and watered as usual, and
the stables locked up. At nine o'clock towld the lads
(01:09):
walked up to the trainer's house, where they had supper
in the kitchen, while the third near the hunter, remained
on guard.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
A few minutes after nine, the maid Edith.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Baxter, carried his supper dish of curried mutton down to
the stables. As the path ran over the open wor.
She carried a lantern with her. About thirty yards away
from the stables, a man appeared out of the darkness
and called to her to stop. Excuse me, Can you
(01:44):
tell me where I am?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I had almost made up my mind to.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Step on the moor when I saw your lantern.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
You are a close to King's piling training stable, sir.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I am what a stirp of blood? I understand that
the stable boys sleeps their learning the night. They had said,
his suffer carrying, Yes, sir, well, it'll be getting called yes.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
But you wouldn't be too proud to her in the
price of a new dress, now, would job? See? The
boy gets the sack note to night, and you have
the prettiest dress that money can buy. Let me pass her.
I'm not getting enough to anybody.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
The girl was frightened by his mamma, and she ran
past him to the stable window hatch through which she
always used to hand the boy his needles. The hatch
was already open and the boy was waiting inside. She
had just begun to tell him what had happened. When
the stranger came up again.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Day, I wanted to have a word with you, But
what what what business? If your business?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
It may put something in your pocket through two horses
in for the Wessex cups over bears and they are
it may have a straight tipany one for the rosa.
It is the fact that it's the waits they are
could give the other the hand of charms.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
So so you're one of them, gent out, Well, I'll
show her. We served them at King's Pilant. Just wait,
my set the dog free ruga rubber. The boy ran
to unleash the dog, and the maid hurried forward of
the house, but looking back she saw the stranger leaning
in through the stable window. A minute later, when a
(03:24):
hunter rushed out with the dog, the stranger was gone. Yes,
that's as far as we can get through the morning post.
I'm afraid missus Hudson very stupidly used the other half
of the paper to light the farthest morning I'm sorry,
Oh no, madam, my dear fellow. The Telegraph has also
covered the color of bullifully head.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
If he had.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
A hunter on the return of his fellow brooms sent
a message after the trainer Straker to tell him what
has happened. Straker seems to have been vaguely uneasy about
the matter, for although he'd been to bed, he got
up again at one o'clock in the morning, telling his
wife that he was going down to the stable to
see if all was well.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
He put on a macintosh, for it was raining heavily, and.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Left the house with quite a wealth of detail, my
dear Watson, and here I have the notes of Missus
Straker's statements.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
After her husband had.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Gone out, she went back to sleep again and didn't
wait until seven o'clock in the morning. Finding him still absent,
she called the maid and they set off together for
the stables. They found the door wide open. Inside, huddled
on a chair was Hunter in a state of complete stupor.
(04:37):
The lads in the loft overhead had had nothing all night,
but the favorite store was empty, and there was no sign.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Of the trailer.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Hunter obviously been run undubtedly. Missus Straker and the maid
left him and ran up to the moor to see
whether the Straker had merely taken the horse out for exercise,
and so the murder was discovered spills you read me
the rest of Missus Straker's strapman, Oh well, there's hurt sis.
But some quarter of a mile from the stable, Missus
(05:08):
Straker and the maid found Straker's coat flapping from a
furze bush. Immediately beyond there was a blue shaped depression.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
On the moor, and at the bottom of this John
Straker's body was found, his.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Head shattered by a savage blow from some heavy weapon,
wounded in the fire a long.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
King cut, evidently inflicted by some sharp in.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Straker had obviously tried to defend himself from.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
In his left hand he.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Grasped a red and black silk clavette, which.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Was recognized by the maid as having been worn by.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
The stranger who had spoken to her outside the stables,
until the stable boy also identified it when he recovered
from the effects of the drug. This was apparently powdered opium,
which had been put.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Into his carried.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Nothing of that that explains what the stranger was doing
is in length through the stable window. For the lads
who were at the same heel at the trainer's house
were quite all right, so only one place had been drugged.
It goes on the sailor were abundant proofs in the
mud which lay at the bottom of the fatal hollow,
but the.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Missing horse, silver Blaze, had been there at the time
of the struggle.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Well, Watson, let a start our little journey quite agreeably,
and here.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We are terystant.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Terrestock lies like the boss of a shield in the
middle of the huge circle of Dartmoor. Two gentlemen were
waiting for us at the station, silver Blaze's owner a
well known sportsman, Colonel ross An Inspector Gregory of Scotland Yard.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I'm delighted that you've come down, mister Holmes.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
But the Inspector here has done all that could possibly
be suggested about. I wish to leave no stone unto
and in find you a venged bosh paker and recover
my heart. I trust that I may be able to
assist yourself. Has there been in a fresh development, I'm
sorry to sir.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
We've made very little progress.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
As you know, we have had nowhere difficulty in tracing
the stranger. He was well known in the neighborhood. His
name is Fitzroy Simpson, man who has come down in
the world and lives by a little quiet and gentle
book making in the London Club. His books showed he
was carrying bits up the five thousand pounds against the favorite.
(07:31):
When confronted with the cravati, turned very pale and was
utterly unable to account for its.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Presence in the hand of the murdered man.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Of course, Drakler himself was wounded, wasn't he in the thigh?
He may have wounded himself in the convulsive struggles which
follow any brain injury. Excellent, my dear Watson, It's more
than possible.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
It's probable, in.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Which case one of the main points in favor of
the accused disappeared. A minute later, we're all seated in
a comfortable land, and we're rolling through the quaint old devil.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Chatwn clever council will tear your case to rags.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Why should Simpson take the horse out of the stable
if he wished to injure it, he could do it.
There has a duplicate key to the stable door been
found in his possession? What chemist told him the part
of opium above? Or where could he he is a
stranger to the district hide a horse, and such a
horse as this.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Tell me?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
What is his own explanation as for the note which
he wished the maid to get to the stable boy.
He says it was a ten pound note, that one
was found in his purse.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Also, he is not a stranger to the district.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
He's twice large at Tavistock in the summer. The oak
hum he probably brought with him from London. The key,
having served its turn, will be hurled away.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
As for the horse, they you're.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Well lie at the bottom of one of the pits
or old mines upon the moor.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
What does he say about the crevette?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
He admits that it's his and says that he lost it.
But a new element has been introduced into the case,
which mayor country is leading a horse from the stable.
We found traces that show the party of Gypsy's encamped
on Monday night within a mile of the spot where
the murder took place. On Tuesday they were gone. Simpson
(09:18):
may well have been leading a horse to them when.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
He was overtaken. It's certainly possible ed the moor has
been scarred for them.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Meanwhile, I've examined Entry's table and outhouse in Tavistock, and
for a wagius of.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Ten miles there's another training stable quite close.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I believe yes, and that's a factor we must certainly
not neglect as desbre As their horse was second in
the betting. They had an interest in the disappearance of
the Silver Blaze. Silas Brown their trainer, he is known
have had large bets from the event, and he was
no friend of poor Straco. However, we've examined his tables
(09:57):
and there's nothing.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
To connect him with the affair, and.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Nothing to connect to Try Simpson with their interests, nothing
at all. Ah, Well, here we are. Our driver pulled
up at a little red brick pillar which stood by
the road. Colonel Ross asked Holmes whether he would like
to go on to the scene of the crime. No,
(10:21):
I think I prefer to stay here a little while
and go into one or two questions of detail. Taker
was brought back here.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
I suppose yes, he lies upstairs. The inquest is tomorrow.
He's been in your service some years, Colonel.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I've always found him an excellent servant.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I presumed you made an inventory of what he had
in his pockets at the diame of his death, Inspector.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
I had the things themselves here in the sitting room, Tiller,
a box of matches, twoinges of tallow candle, pencil case,
a few papers.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
And the ivory handled knife.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, very singular knife, Watson. Surely in your life is
what we call a catillact knife used for surgical purposes,
including very delicate operations. A strange thing for a man
to carry with him on a rough expedition.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Why don't even shut up to go into his pocket?
The tip was.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Guarded by a cork which was found beside his body.
His wife tells us that he kept it for some
days in the dressing table and picked it up as.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
He left the room.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
A poor weapon, but perhaps the best he could lay
his hands on at the moment.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
And the paper hey dealer's accounts.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
This letter from Colonel Ross and this dressmaker's account for
thirty seven pounds fifteen made out by Madame Lejure of
Bond Street. I see that bill, please, certainly it's made
out through William Derbysher. William Derbysher, Missus Straker tells us
he was a friend of her husband, and that occasionally
(11:50):
letters for him will address here.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Had he been staying here then did Missus Straker know him?
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I gather not, But here is Missus Straker. Jolick Holmes
missus Straker.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
How do you do, sir? How do you do? Missus Straker?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Surely we've met before as a garden party in Plymouth recently, Now, sir, you.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Must be mistaken. I could have sworn it.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
You wore a costume of dove colored colored silk with
ostrich feather trimmings. Never had such addressed, sir.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Well that's settles he excuse me, sir, like a word
with a colonel. Of course, I'll leave with you in
a moment to.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Holmes, Oh, Inspector Holmes, I believe you got your hand
on a clue.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Or do you?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
As a matter of fact, I was just remembering a
really excellent curry we once set together in so Ho.
Sherlock Holmes next up to be shown the part where
(13:01):
the murder had been committed. A short walk, cross and
work brought us to the hollow in which the body
had been found.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
At the brink of it was the third bush upon.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Which the making tooch belonging to the murdered man had
been hung. There was no wind that night, I understand,
none but deaddy had arranged. And well, in that case
the coat was not blown against the third bushes.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
It must have been placed there.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, it was laid across the bush.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Very interesting. In this bag, I have one of.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
The boots which straker wall, one of Fitzroy's, Simpson's shoes,
and the cursed horse shoe of silver blade. Right, dear
respector you surpass yourself. Holmes took the bag, and descending
into the hollow, he made a careful study of the
trampled mud in front of him.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Hello, what's fifth the spent match next to the dike?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Counting how I came to miss it? It was invisible,
buried in the mud. I only find it because I
was looking for it.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
But you expected to find it.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
I thought it not unlikely. You will have searched the
ferns round the rim of the hollow for any more tracks.
Of course, I'm afraid there are none. I've examined the
ground very carefully for a hundred guards in each direction.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Good. Then I will take a little.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Walk over the moors before it grows dark, and I
think I'll put this horseshoe in my pocket just for luck.
I suppose you know your own death at best. I
suppose perhaps you'll come back with the inspector. And there
are several matters on which I need your advice, especially
as to whether we own to the public to scratch
so the bags from the Wessex Cup certainly not.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Colonel, I should let the name stand.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I am very glad to have your opinions, which will
see you later on. When you finished your walk, Boss
and the Inspector.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Went back to the villa, our homesy walked soarlier across
the moor.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
He may leave the question of who killed John Straker
at the moment, and and find ourselves to finding out
what had become of the horse. Now, supposing he broke
away during or after the tragedy, where could he have
got to? Almost anywhere on dart Or. I should imagine
jour knows horses a be gurious animal. If left to himself,
(15:16):
his instincts would have been able to return to King's
Thailand or go all over to Caperton yonder.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Why should he run wilder on the moor. He's not
at King's Thailand.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
He must be over there at Campleton. Come along, We're
not far to go. And as we approached the gates
of Capleton we met a groom coming.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Out of them. We don't want the lawyers round here.
I only wanted to ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Would I be too early to see your master, mister
Silas Brown? If I were recall here at five o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Why bless you? If anyone's about, it'll be him.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
He's always the first churring this this?
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Are you there? What would you want here? Ten minutes?
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Talk with you, my good sir, I've no time to
talk to everything about. If we don't want stranger there
be off you. I find a doggerty. Here's one word
in your ear, my friend, in your own interest.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
It's a lie, an infernal life.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Very good? Shall we argue about it here in public?
Or talk it over in your parlor?
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Or do I go to the.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Police just twenty minutes before he returned? It should be
done to just if you wish it. There must be
no mistake. Oh no, they should be then a mistake
it should be there. Should I change it first or not? No? No, don't.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I'll write to you about that. No tricks now, now
you can trust me? You can trust me? Yes, I
think I can.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Well.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
You shall hear from me tomorrow. Good day, do you?
Good day? Sir?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
You see what's a more perfect compound of the bully colored.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
And sneak than Master Silace, but I've seldom met with
he has the horse tim Or. He tried to bluster
it out, but.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I told him so exactly what his actions had been.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
That means that he's convinced.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I was actually watching him first a stain force wandering
on and went out to it when he's very nice
little day because I sat.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
It returned to the Pilmcule, which he had to do.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
But then he realized that if the horse would only
be hidden, and after the Wessex Cup, his own horse
desbro and allmust certainly wind.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
So he changed his mind and turned.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Back halfway brought Silver Blaze down to his own stable.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
But I thought his tables as being covered a sore
or old horse. Faker like him has many a dodge
and around tew afraid to leave the horse in his power.
Now he seed every interest in injuring it.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
My dear fellow, he guarded like the apple of his eye.
He knows that his only hope of mercy is to
produce it safely at the race tack for the Wessex Cup.
I made that persic appear to him. But I have
a little trick to play on ternel Ross who may
have noticed that his manner to me was just trustle caroleer.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
So neither of us, please, for the present, will say
anything to him about the horse or a certain amuntitude wishes.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
However, and of course this is all quite a minor
matter compared with the question of who killed John Staker,
and you will devote yourself to that in the meantime.
On the contrary, we'll both go back to London by
the night chair. I was thunder struck by my friend's word.
It'd only been a few hours in Devanter, but he
(18:26):
should give up an investigation which had begne so brilliant
it was quite incomprehensible to me. Not one word more
could I draw from him until we were back of
the plainer's house, where the Colonel and the insector were
waiting for us. My friend and I returned to town
by the midnight express. We've had a charming little breath
of your darts were air, so you were despaired of
(18:48):
arresting the Drosport take us.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
There are certainly great difficulties in the way.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
I have every help, however, that your horse would be
as the race back next Tuesday, and I beg that
you have your jockey in readiness. Oh now I take
this photograph of John Straker with me back to town.
The wed inspector, I'm rather disappointed in our London consultants,
and I don't need to put any star with the way.
He came released your head an assurance that Joe horse
(19:14):
will run next week.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Years I had his assurance, I.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Should prefer to have my horse.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
We went outside, Goodbye.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Goodbye, colonel. I hope to see you with the Wessex
Cup and Silver Blaze. Four days later, Holmes and I
thought silver Blaze win the Westx Cup by a good
six lengths, but was not a silver Blaze that even
its owner could recognize, with no taste to be seen
(19:43):
as a famous white splash on its hoddead or of
the muffled off folly. The silver Blade that won the Wessex.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Cup was a powerful day. It was only in the
way and soda after the race.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
But the plans began to explain to a colonel it
is completely bewildered. He order to wash his space in
his leg in silitab wine and he would find that
he's just the same old silver Blazer.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Ever, you should take my breath away as I find
him in the.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Hands of a taker, and took the liberty of running
him just as he was sent over.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
My DearS, Are you done, wonders?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I owe you a thousand of policies. You've done here
very great service by recovering my horse. You would be
here a greater skill if you.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Could lay your hands on the murderer, John Staker. I've
done so, you done so, have got him. But the
way here he's in a hard company at because of
the moment.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
That is either a very bad joke, mister Holmes, or
is it really insult I'm not the Duke. The real
murderer is standing immediately before.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
You the horse. The horse sold the blaze himself.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
It may less from the guilt if I say that
the killing was done entirely in self descend, and that
John's taker was a man who was quite unworthy of
your confidence. There goes the bell, And as I stand
to win a little on the next race, I shall
defer a lengthier explanation till a more fitting time. But
(21:25):
not until we were on our way back to London.
The homes will get down to these explanations. Despite the
impatience of both the Colonel and myself. I must success
that I even suspect to situy Sinston myself for the time.
It is only when I reached the Painer's house with
the immense significance of the curried mutton.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Occurred the curriage mutton.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Even when you mentioned our sole whole meal exactly, powdered
opium has a disagreeable and perceptible flavor. Only something more
strongly flavored, like a curry could have disguised the taste. Now,
Fitzwright Crimson would never have known that the nido deserving
the stable lab of the cuddy that night. The only
people would have known that for people in my house,
(22:09):
But who could have taken advantage of the back. Then
there was the silence of the dog. When the horse
was staying from the stable. It failed the bark because
he knew beating in from the boss. I was already
quite convinced that the impruder must have been John Straker himself.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
John Staker himself, But why did you wish to take
Silver Blaze out on to the moor and the dead
of night?
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Un Secretly, the answer to that was in John's sacred pocket.
The dressmakers built besides the addressed to William Darbyshire. That
set me thinking perhaps John s Baker was leading a
double life. After all, his wife confirmed that the expensive
costume wasn't for her, and by recognizing the person that
I showed her, Madame Rosierier, the dressmaker, later confirmed that
(22:53):
John's taker had indeed bought it there to give to
a woman a more expensive taste than.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
In fact, John Staker was leading a double knife and
was in there's financial shade.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
In John's streaker. I can scarcely believe him. The knife
gave me.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
The final too.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
It was the surgical knife, such as could be used
to lame a horse with us leaving an invisible evidence.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Of foul play.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
By laying the silver blaze and betting on desbra John
Faker would have been able to retrieve his portable the candle,
and then I busted.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
He led the horse out.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Onto the moor so that when he cut its timbom,
its plunging wouldn't waken the gooms overhead. In order he
told see what he was get to do, he needed
a candle so that the campbell should not be seen.
He led the horse to the hollow. In lighting the campbell,
he dropped that spent match in the mud. Unfortunately for him,
the knight must have scare the horse, unless it was instinct.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Whichever it was, the horse.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Lashed out and its steel shoe Colt straker full in
the forest. He had already taken off his macintosh to
be fear, and as he fell gashed his sigh on
his own knife.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
I guess he might have been that one and the
Corvette Victory Simpson, which was in the dead man's hand.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Cimpton said that he lost it. No, God he did
three time. Must have found it and picked it up,
perhaps with the idea of using it to secure a
horse's leg. Well that's disclosure of everything, right, spo. I
haven't taken a while away the rest of this journey
idea Watson with a game of chess. The Adventures of
(24:31):
Sherlock Pols, based on the original stories of Sir Arthur
coland Doyle, have been dramatized on You with original music
composed by Sidley cors four
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