first series
1. Who killed Guy Clarendon?
2. Why was he murdered?
3. Why did Frances Nolan go to Halliday’s?
4. Who was the Society Burglar?
5. Who is Calvin Leach?
second series
6. Who killed Klaus Wallinden and how?
7. In which neighbourhood did Kenward Olick work?
8. How did Kilgore manage to evade the police vigilance?
h I h
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h II h
W
e are at 221B trying to sort out a solution when Holmes enters the apartment.
His appearance is startling. His cap is gone, his trousers are spattered with mud and his jacket
is ripped. Even more disturbing is the stark look of defeat in his eyes. Without a word, he
shuffles over to the basin to splash his grimy face with water.
“Holmes,” says Watson softly, “we’re having a devil of a time with this case. Could you help us?”
Holmes stiffens, then after a moment lets out a long sigh. As he turns back to us, his features soften until a faint
trace of a smile plays at the corners of his mouth.
“Of course, Watson,” he says, matching Watson’s subdued tone. “How can I be of service to you?”
For the next twenty minutes, Watson acquaints Holmes with the facts of Guy Clarendon’s murder by taking
him on a verbal tour of our visits around the city. When Watson is finished, Holmes takes the floor.
“Excellent, Watson. You have managed to solve two cases for Scotland Yard, though I doubt Lestrade will
consider himself in your debt.”
“I have?”
“Yes, indeed.... Clarendon is 7000 pounds in debt to the gambler Kilgore. Unfortunately, he is out-of-pocket
and in his father’s bad graces. Kilgore’s confederate, the dangerous Gus Bullock, is seen hanging about the
Clarendon home and the younger Clarendon is roughed up. To solve his problem, Clarendon turns to burglary.
His victims are to be members of his own class, whose social comings and goings he knows well and whose
homes he has visited. He acquires a black sweater and black trousers, dyes a pair of canvas fencing shoes and
decides that he needs a base of operations. It may well have been Bullock’s lurking presence that spawned his
desire to secret himself away. In any case he chooses Halliday’s.
“Clarendon arrives at Halliday’s and takes a day to look the place over. Significantly, he switches rooms to one in
the back part of the hotel, with a vine-covered trellis conveniently leading to the bedroom window.
“Now, on the first of June, Bullock, having discovered Clarendon’s elegant hideaway, confronts him in the
lobby. The 5,000 pounds is withdrawn and makes its way to Kilgore against the debt. That evening the ‘Society
Burglar’ -strikes for the first time. Clarendon, Kilgore and Calvin Leach, a known trafficker in stolen goods, are
seen in company. Notice, if you will, that one-half the value of the first three society thefts amounts to 2,000
pounds — one-half of the value being the price normally paid by Leach for stolen goods — and equals the
balance of Clarendon’s debt to Kilgore. Debt-free, Clarendon is now in a position to make money on his own,
as his succeeding bank transactions evidence. On the day after each of the next three burglaries Clarendon
made deposits.
“The pattern of the burglaries is obvious. Clarendon would pick his target, select the night and contact Leach.
That evening, he would enter Halliday’s well before 10 o’clock in order to establish his alibi, change into his
working clothes and exit down the trellis. The burglary accomplished, he would return, change again and meet
SOLUTIONS
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with Leach. After that he would deposit his take. The pattern was interrupted on the night of July 1st, the night
of the theft of the diamond Tiara.
“Loretta Nolan, a long time accomplice of Clarendon in various nefarious misdeeds, was aware of the burglaries,
and quite probably took part in them. Her recognisable laugh revealed her presence at Halliday’s. A short time
after the fifth burglary, two thefts were planned. One, thought up by Clarendon, concerned the theft of the
Tiara, the other was planned by Dr Trevelyan.”
“Indeed, the good doctor who has been taking care of Loretta for years through hypnosis has also learned
of the dark behaviour of Clarendon, during a seance with his patient. He saw there the chance to get rid of a
bothersome rival who risks getting his hands on Frances’ fortune, which he also wants for himself.”
“On the night of July 1st, he entered Clarendon’s bedroom by the trellis, armed with a derringer and awaited his
return. Clarendon came back from his night work and while he was pouring himself a glass of wine to celebrate
the event, Trevelyan killed him, and used the occasion to take the loot from the last theft, the Tiara. During that
night, he then went to visit Frances. Knowing perfectly the technique, and thanks to the drugs he administered
to her under the pretence of giving her a sedative, he hypnotised her. He ordered her to go into Clarendon’s
bedroom with the derringer and fire into the ceiling.”
“With Clarendon removed and Frances getting a death sentence, the fortune of the latter was naturally destined
to Loretta. It would’ve been child’s play for Trevelyan to profit from the mental weakness of Loretta to bilk her
out of her money, even more so since Clarendon was no longer there to push her into costly extravagances. If
you would please let Lestrade know, I’m sure you’ll find Dr Trevelyan still in possession of the Tiara.”
Holmes sighs deeply and appears suddenly weary. The spark of energy and interest ignited by Watson’s plea
for help is all but extinguished. He sits a moment in silence looking down at his own tattered appearance. No
doubt, his failure to solve the cabbie’s murder preys upon his mind. Finally, he starts toward his room mumbling,
“I believe I will clean up now.”
At the doorway, he stops and whispers, “Watson, the needle.”
Holmes solved this case by following 5 leads: Halliday’s Hotel (15 SW), Old Bailey Criminal Court (36 EC),
Dr Trevelyan (19 SW), Hiram Davenport’s office (13 WC) and Porky Shinwell (52 EC).
He also used the following article from the newspaper: ‘Society Burglar’ take climbs to £14,000 (4 July, 1888).
His score is 100 points.
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