Sherlock Holmes

Problems: Doyle does not mention the name or sex of the baby.
Mrs Ferguson seems willing to allow her child to die rather
than explain all to her husband – a strange decision. A year at
sea seems a rather weak cure for such a psychopathic juvenile
– what about recruiting an alienist (cf. The Creeping Man)? If the
information in Holmes’ scrapbook about vampires was
‘rubbish’, why did he file it in the first place? Holmes really
should have got Watson to examine the baby’s wounds – it
would have saved a lot of time.
Observations: This is the only story in the canon to star a
villainous child.
Verdict: Just like the last story, a rather sinister premise leads to
a prosaic solution – although in this case it has the benefit of a
little more credibility. 4/5
53) The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
UK: The Strand Magazine (January 1925, HKE); USA: Collier’s
(25 October 1924, JRF)
The Case: Holmes is asked to find a man with an unusual
surname…
Date: Late June 1902.
S H E R L O C K H O L M E S
• 96 •

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Characters: Nathan Garrideb, John Garrideb, Mrs Hudson,
Howard Garrideb, Mrs Saunders, Killer Evans (alias James
Winter/Morecroft), Alexander Hamilton Garrideb, Rodger
Prescott, Inspector Lestrade, Waldron.
Locations: 136 Little Ryder Street, W2; Grosvenor Buildings,
Aston, Birmingham; Moorville, Kansas, USA; Holloway and Steele,
Edgware Road; Rogues’ Portrait Gallery, Scotland Yard; Brixton
nursing home.
Holmes:Has refused a knighthood for unspecified services to the
Crown. Sometimes spends several days in bed. Is very
distressed at the thought of Watson being injured.
Watson: Has a siesta.
Elementary: Deduces Nathan Garrideb has been in England for
some time from his clothes.
Quotable Quote: ‘You’re not hurt, Watson? For God’s sake, say
that you are not hurt?’
Problems: There is enough space between the back of a cupboard
and a wall for two people to hide.The phrase ‘of evil memory’
makes two appearances. Nathan Garrideb used to go out to
Christie’s or Sotheby’s, which would have allowed Killer Evans
to break in without such an elaborate subterfuge.
Observations: Holmes here uses the telephone for the very first
time. His refusal of a knighthood contrasts with Doyle’s accept-
ance of one in 1902 (the year of the story). Sir Hans Sloane
(1660–1753) – known as ‘The Great Collector’ – helped found
the British Museum in London. In The Strand, Prescott was
originally named Presbury, but was changed in later versions to
differentiate the character from a similarly-named one in The
Creeping Man.
Verdict: Shades of The Red-Headed League, but passable enough.
Holmes’ obvious distress at Watson’s injury is a touching
moment. 4/5
T H E C A N O N
• 97 •

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54) The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
UK: The Strand Magazine (February-March 1925, HKE); USA:
Collier’s (8 November 1924, JRF)
The Case: A suspected murderer is due to marry a rich young
woman…
Date: 3 September 1902.
Characters: Colonel Sir James Damery, Baron Adelbert Gruner,
Violet de Merville, Shinwell ‘Porky’ Johnson, Kitty Winter,
one-legged news-vendor, Sir Leslie Oakshott, Lomax, Dr Hill
Barton, butler, footmen, coachman, Professor Moriarty, Colonel
Sebastian Moran, General de Merville, Le Brun.