First broadcast 14th March 1991.
When William McCarthy is found dead, the son with whom he had just quarrelled is charged with murder.
Jeremy Brett ... Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke ... Dr. Watson
Peter Vaughan ... John Turner
Jonathan Barlow ... Inspector Summerby
Joanna Roth ... Alice Turner
Leslie Schofield ... William McCarthy
James Purefoy ... James McCarthy
Cliff Howells ... Crowder the Gamekeeper
Makala Saunders ... Patience Crowder
Mark Jordon ... George
Will Tacey ... Coroner
When William McCarthy is found dead, the son with whom he had just quarrelled is charged with murder.
Jeremy Brett ... Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke ... Dr. Watson
Peter Vaughan ... John Turner
Jonathan Barlow ... Inspector Summerby
Joanna Roth ... Alice Turner
Leslie Schofield ... William McCarthy
James Purefoy ... James McCarthy
Cliff Howells ... Crowder the Gamekeeper
Makala Saunders ... Patience Crowder
Mark Jordon ... George
Will Tacey ... Coroner
Category
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TVTranscript
00:30It's my life, and I'm going to run it the way I like!
01:00Get off out of it!
01:20Good morning!
01:21Morning!
01:22Caught anything?
01:23Not yet.
01:24Holmes!
01:25What on earth are you doing here?
01:27Holmes!
01:28What on earth are you doing here?
01:31Looking for you.
01:32Now, carry on, my dear fellow.
01:33Don't let me disturb you.
01:41What on earth are you doing here?
01:43Ha ha.
01:44A case has brought me this way.
01:48What sort of case?
01:50The newspapers are calling it the Boscombe Valley Mystery.
01:52I expect you've read something of it.
01:54No, not a word.
01:55word. I haven't seen a paper for days. a farmer called McCarthy, Australian by
02:00birth, met his death by a mule at the bottom of his farm. they seem to
02:05establish a very serious case against the son of the murdered man. there's a
02:11big one just under that rock. so then it's a murder. well it's conjecture to be
02:21so. of course I shall take nothing for granted until I've had a chance to look
02:25into it personally. naturally. I don't wish to spoil your holiday but I was
02:33wondering if I could persuade you to join me for a couple of days. well of
02:39course. are you sure? I should be delighted. then we must move quickly. our local train
02:49leaves in 35 minutes.
03:19Oh Watson, all this fresh air will kill me. hmm well the London press don't seem
03:44much interested. not not very full of accounts. yes. useless. so much for the
03:51London press. all seems depressingly simple. what persuaded you to take an
03:54interest in this case? this.
03:58Boscombe Valley mystery. there has been a grave miscarriage of justice. the matter
04:03is urgent. we need your help. please come if you can.
04:07Alice Turner. good heavens. who is Alice Turner? she's the daughter of mr. Turner.
04:12also Australian who owns this whole estate. it's a mystery not murder to miss
04:18Turner. note the we Watson. we need your help. if ever there was a cry from the
04:23heart that is it it leaps from the paper. have you seen this lady? no not yet.
04:27do you remember a certain sergeant Somerby? Somerby. oh yes the case of a
04:31counterfeit Spanish dollars. Mexican. a pleasant fellow. much admired your methods
04:36did he not? probably his reason for promotion to inspector. he is in charge
04:43of the case. it was he organized this accommodation for us. us? you presumed
04:48that I would come. no not presumed. Watson hoped. very much hoped. well mr.
04:56Holmes and you doctor. it's a pleasure to see you again.
05:00congratulations on your promotion inspector. thank you doctor. it's a quiet
05:06district as a rule but nonetheless my own. I have a carriage waiting.
05:24McCarthy the murdered man rented a farm called Hatherley from mr. Turner. it was
05:28one of the largest landed proprietors in this part of the country. made his money
05:32in Australia. I presume that both being colonials they had much in common. old
05:37friends I believe. well mr. Turner has been in failing health for some time.
05:40he has a daughter called Alice. an only child and the most charming one. we surmised that
05:46miss Turner and the McCarthy boy are friends. great friends. who brings me here?
05:52well I know mr. Holmes and to be quite honest with you I'm surprised you came.
05:56well the case is this plane is a bike stuff. the more work is into it the
06:00plainer it becomes. so I have warned miss Turner that this time not even mr.
06:04Sherlock Holmes will be able to work miracles. so there we are.
06:10beautiful countryside. yes yes indeed. this is a Boscombe Valley and over there
06:16at the bottom is Boscombe Mere where the murder took place. peaceful place for a
06:20tragedy. any witnesses? I expect that question mr. Holmes. the principal
06:26witness is William Crowder. one of mr. Turner's gamekeepers.
06:34it was after I had my dinner. last Monday it was. the 3rd of June.
06:41ah that's right. now I fed the young pheasants. ports we call them. you were
06:48planting out lettuces. ah that's right. I was setting out some lettuces. those
06:54lettuces over there. when my little girl Patience she comes running up.
07:10dad dad the McCarthy's are fighting. won't be a fast time. well don't you worry about it
07:18Patience take no concern of ours. go on in you lot.
07:28that mr. McCarthy. he had a temper that man you know. oh aye. you know if he thought
07:35another gun had poached his bird out shooting he'd like flying a real fury.
07:40was the boy the same way inclined? no milk for me principal. no no not that I'd
07:47noticed anyway. no he always seemed a nice enough boy. surprised him doing such
07:51a thing. but then again he was provoked. no doubt. who's to say? you tell the
08:01gentleman what happened next. what? you haven't forgotten what you said in
08:06evidence of the inquest. forgotten? I shan't forget that day not so long as I
08:11live. now I just sent Patience into a mother and I hadn't planted out no more
08:17than another art box. when young McCarthy come running up looking like he'd seen a
08:21ghost. my father's met with a terrible accident. please come with me I need your
08:26help. where is it? down by the mere.
08:41is he alive?
09:12he's just come along with me.
09:28I brought him back here and I sent me wife down in the trap for the police. did
09:33the boys say anything? no no no not a word. he just sat there where you are
09:37sobbing and moaning and I didn't take my eyes off him till they came for him and
09:41that's the truth. did you examine the gun at all? the butt for instance? no no
09:47not especially. there was a bit of mud on it. he wiped it. he wiped it. well I might
09:58have done. I mean it would have been natural wouldn't it? there was mr.
10:02McCarthy lying there dead with his head bashed in. he hadn't got that waste what
10:05he was. you believe that the boy killed his father? of course I do sir. I mean who
10:11else could have done it? I can tell you this much gentlemen. I know I'm a
10:17gamekeeper right and when a man's got a gun in his hand strange things can
10:21happen. now I've seen men quiet law-abiding gentlemen you put a gun in
10:26their hands they turn into near maniacs. thank you so much mr. Crowder for giving
10:30me so much of your valuable time. well it's been a pleasure gentlemen. it's not
10:38the first time I've been able to help the cause of justice. no not by a long
10:41joke. it was last year Camelman's time you
10:44remember inspector? no I'm a liar. it was... we must be on our way. I'm on the side
10:49of law and order sir. the inspector will tell you that. indeed you are Crowder.
10:53thank you. goodbye. they're all the same these country people. once they get an
11:03audience they'll talk their hind leg up a donkey. now if you follow me I'll take
11:06you down to the scene of the crime. no need for the moment. that's very true. no
11:11need in the circumstances. it's a sad case but a pretty clear one. the glass is
11:16high. weather set fair. I should like to call on James McCarthy. I can arrange it
11:25if you wish. tomorrow. tomorrow. one more thing I should tell you mr. Holmes. when
11:30the boy was charged with the murder he didn't appear in the least surprised. in
11:34fact he said it was no more than his desserts. those were his very words. a
11:39confession? you might think so. did he also protest his innocence? yes but then
11:44again they always do don't they? I think we'd best be getting back to the hotel. I
11:48have some call to make on this date. till tomorrow then. boss commands!
12:06the boy said he got no more than his dessert. well that's a pretty suspicious
12:11remark. I mean coming off to such a damning series of events. on the contrary
12:16it's the brightest gift I can see in the clouds at present. self-approach and
12:20contrition displayed by his remark appears to me to be signs of a healthy
12:23mind rather than a guilty one. many men have been hanged on far slighter evidence.
12:28so they have and many men have been hanged wrongfully. who look? a pheasant.
12:41hmm witness that's James McCarthy. I had a conversation with my father which led
12:52to high words and almost to blows. I left him and went up the hill. I hadn't gone
13:02more than a hundred yards when I heard a hideous outcry which caused me to run
13:09back again. I found my father expiring on the ground with his head terribly
13:16injured. did you see anyone near your father when you returned? no no one. I
13:23have no idea how he came by his injuries. he was not a popular man but as far as I
13:30know he had no active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter. did your
13:35father say anything to you before he died? he mumbled a few words but all I
13:40could catch was some allusion to a rat. silence! be quiet! a rat. and what did you
13:50understand by that? he conveyed nothing to me. I thought well I thought he was
13:56delirious. what was the point upon which you and your father had this final
14:01quarrel?
14:08I should prefer not to answer that question sir. I'm afraid that I must
14:13press it. it really is impossible for me to tell you but I can assure you that it
14:17had nothing to do with the sad tragedy that followed. that is for the court to
14:21decide. I need hardly point out to you that your refusal to answer will
14:25prejudice your case considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. you
14:29may sit down.
14:36gentlemen of the jury you are here to discover the cause of death mr. William
14:40McCarthy and thereafter to deliver your verdict. you have heard the facts of this
14:45crime. I believe they make the situation very clear. mr. James McCarthy's account
14:51of his father's dying is singular to say the least. his refusal to give any
14:55details of their last conversation must go very much against him. the verdict of
15:01willful murder seemed to me to fit the facts we have heard. I hope I make myself
15:07clear.
15:11so willful murder it was monstrous. well the boy did rather ask for it.
15:18it wasn't did you see that both you and the Cardinal have been in some pains to
15:21single out the strongest points in the young man's favor. don't you see that
15:25you alternately give him credit for too much imagination or too little? too
15:28little if he could not invent a quarrel which would give him the sympathy of the
15:31jury. too much if he evolved from his own inner consciousness anything so utter is
15:36a dying reference to a rat. well these country coroners do think they're
15:41little tinpot gods. it's an absolute scandal. no no no. I shall approach this
15:49case from the point of view that what this young man says is true.
16:20we have a visitor. our young client has arrived.
16:32come in. I'm so glad you've come mr. Holmes. I'm Alice Turner. this is my
16:50friend and colleague dr. Watson. dr. Watson of course. it is you who have
16:55written down some of mr. Holmes's cases in such an interesting way. you see I
16:59know all about you mr. Holmes and your wonderful success. if you knew how much
17:04we need you now but do you yet know anything of what happened? please sit
17:08down miss Turner. inspector Somerville has told me something of it. oh yes the
17:13inspector. he gave me your address. he's quite a kind man isn't he? but he doesn't
17:19understand. how could he? he's a policeman. mr. Holmes I know that James
17:27didn't do it. I know it and I want you to start your work knowing it too. never
17:34let yourself doubt upon that point. have you known James McCarthy a long time?
17:38yes all my life. we have known each other since we were children. but he is too
17:44tender-hearted to hurt a fly. this charge is just absurd to anyone who really
17:49knows him. well I hope that we may clear him. I should do all I can. but from what
17:56you've heard already do you not think he's innocent? I think it is probable.
18:02I don't think my friend is so convinced. well I I think that mr. Holmes has been
18:08a little little quick in his conclusions. but you are right. oh I know that you are
18:14right. James never did it. his quarrel with his father which you would not talk
18:20about to the coroner. do you know anything of it? I believe it was because I was
18:24concerned in it. in what way? it is no time to hide anything now. James and his
18:33father had many disagreements about me. mr. McCarthy was very anxious that there
18:38should be a marriage between us. James and I have always loved each other like
18:42brother and sister. of course we haven't seen so much of each other lately. I have
18:47been away at boarding school for some years and James has been studying in
18:50Liverpool. he is only 22 and has seen very little of life and well I suppose
18:57he does not wish to do anything like that just yet. so there were quarrels and
19:03this I'm sure was one of them. how old are you miss Turner? I'm 18. quite nearly 19.
19:13as you say this isn't a time to hide anything. are you in love with James
19:24McCarthy?
19:30yes I am mr. Holmes
19:34very much in love
19:38there is no one else and never will be even if... and he with you? I think so I
19:47hope so but how should I know for sure? we have never discussed marriage. was your
19:57father in favor of such a union? no he was averse to it. no one but mr. McCarthy
20:06was in favor of it. thank you for being so frank with us. if I was to visit your
20:15father could I see him please? I'm afraid not. the doctor has forbidden any
20:19visitors. oh I'm sorry we did not know he was so ill. my father has never been
20:24strong but this has broken him completely. he has taken to his bed and
20:29dr. Willow says that he's a wreck and his nervous system is shattered. I can
20:33hardly leave him or I would have been at the railway station to meet you. well you
20:37see mr. McCarthy was the only man alive who had known dad in the old days in
20:41Australia. Australia? in Victoria at the mines the gold mines. that's where dad
20:48made all his money. you have been of material assistance to me. will you be
20:58able to see James? tomorrow. tell him that I know him to be innocent.
21:09could you give him this? and if you have any news you will tell me. I must go home
21:19now. I left my father asleep but if he wakes and I'm not there he'll be upset.
21:24goodbye
21:33and God help you in your undertaking.
21:54good morning.
22:19may I see Malone? as you wish mr. Holmes but remember this man is on
22:24remand accused of willful murder and as you will know such a man under such
22:28circumstances is unlikely to speak the truth. oh thank you.
22:37James McCarthy my name is Sherlock Holmes. I'm here to help you. should I
22:43know that? you came with a police inspector. I saw him out there. I'm here
22:47at the request of miss Turner.
22:54I am sorry mr. Holmes. lately I've learned to trust no one. I'm afraid you've come
23:12too late. they've already made up their minds that I am guilty. well I have not.
23:17what the coroner's called. the coroner and the coroner's jury only sit to inquire
23:22into the facts. they do not sit in judgment. well how can I help you? I'd
23:28like you to tell me exactly what happened.
23:34let us sit down over here where we can talk quietly and not be overheard.
23:42where shall I start? you choose. well I've been studying in Liverpool for some
23:50three years. my father was most anxious I should have some academic
23:53qualifications. it was on that day June the 3rd that I returned home. was your
24:00father expecting you? no no not exactly. he knew I was due for a few days holiday
24:05but not the exact day. a local carrier took me up to the farm from the village.
24:11nice to see you back master James. oh it's nice to be back George. hey stand up. is my father in the house?
24:18no no went off about five minutes ago. looked as though he had something on his mind.
24:23all right George. will you be wanting pony later? no no I'll ride tomorrow. I might take the gun
24:31see if I can put a few rabbits. they need shooting. place is crawling with them.
24:49hello father. James? what are you doing here? I'm just back for a few days that's all.
25:01well I don't want you down here so get off out of it. keep away from me do you
25:06understand? yes. why? none of your damn business just do as you're told.
25:10James. now you are here. get over to Turner's place and tell that girl you'll marry her.
25:24I'll do no such thing look father. we have been through all this before.
25:28you damn disobedient little bastard.
25:33give me the gun. it's my life and I'm gonna run it the way I like.
25:47damn you. I'll throw you out. I'll ruin you. you see. now get off out of it.
26:02I had hardly gone any distance at all when I heard a terrible scream. I ran
26:08back down and found my father lying on his side. did you see anyone else? no
26:14movement anywhere? no my attention was entirely on my father. he was terribly
26:18wounded. you would not tell the coroner about this quarrel with your father. it
26:25was something private. it was no business of his. was it not because this
26:30confrontation with your father might seem to incriminate you? no. no it was
26:35because it concerned Alice. it was no business of the coroner's or anyone
26:40else's. I wasn't gonna have her name bandied about in the courtroom. you do
26:47know that Alice loves you James. and believes you to be innocent. yes I know.
26:57the thought of her love and her faith in me has kept me in some sort of sanity
27:02in this horrible place. and as you did not wish to marry her as your father so
27:07clearly wished. perhaps you did not share her love. I did.
27:15I do mr. Holmes. I love Alice Turner. I adore her. I worship the very ground she
27:22treads on. but... and yet?
27:30I could not ask her to marry me because because I was married already. don't you
27:43think you'd better tell me about it?
27:48when when I first started studying in Liverpool my father gave me a very
27:55generous allowance. I was too generous my own good. I became very wild and fell in
28:01with a bad set of people. in a fit of drunken madness I went through a form of
28:09marriage in a register office to a woman much older than I was. a barmaid. I hardly
28:19ever saw Alice at that time. of course I couldn't tell my father. he would certainly
28:23have thrown me out as he'd so often threatened. yes I'm sure he would. have you
28:29any idea who could have killed your father so brutally? none whatsoever. do
28:36you know I go over the scene day after day after day in my mind. but I am as
28:44puzzled as everyone else is. don't give up hope.
28:50thank you mr. Holmes. oh mr. Holmes it hardly concerns all this business but
28:57perhaps I should tell you some good has come out of this evil. since I've been in
29:04here I've received a message from the woman I married who was read in the
29:08newspapers that I am in serious trouble and likely to be hanged. she wrote that
29:14she had a husband already in the Bermuda dockyard. good heavens. so there is no
29:20legal tie between us. if only I had known before. you're right to tell me.
29:34poor fellow. must have been maddening to be upraided by his father for not doing
29:44something he would give his very eyes to do. if he's innocent who did it? indeed.
29:51perhaps I can help. I've not been entirely idle in your absence. in the
29:56surgeon's deposition at the inquest it states that the posterior third of the
30:01left parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone were shattered by
30:05blows from a blunt weapon. now that's that's here behind. but the evidence
30:12states that they were quarreling face-to-face. that's a very nice piece
30:18of deduction Wadsworth. thank you. but hardly a valid one. McCarthy could have
30:23easily turned his back the moment the girl had run off. but I'm so glad that
30:27you're coming round to my way of thinking. and miss Turner's the boy is
30:30innocent. now you're putting words in my mouth. I didn't say that. but you're
30:34thinking it just a little. those boots were the ones the master was wearing at
30:45the time he was murdered sir. I've cleaned them up since of course. those
30:53those are a pair of master James's. he bought them new last May come miss. thank you
30:59George. now let us get on to the mere.
31:08this is the place mr. Holmes. you still see traces of the blood.
31:14please would you keep clear of this area.
31:23why did you enter the mere inspector?
31:29fished about with the rake. thought there might be some weapon thrown there or some
31:33other trace. if only I'd been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and
31:37wallowed all over it. this must be the gamekeeper and his gang. these tracks are
31:44young McCarthy's. and these. twice he walked.
31:57returned. once he ran. so the soles of the feet deeply marked the heels are
32:06hardly visible. that would bear out his story. he ran when he saw his father on
32:11the ground. the father paced up and down right here.
32:21what have we here? tiptoes. tiptoes. square toes. most unusual boots. where did
32:35mr. square toes come from?
32:49you made a rare blood anvil mr. Holmes.
32:53ah
33:01it has been a case of considerable interest. come. thank you George. thank you
33:13sir. would you deliver this note? yes sir indeed. right away.
33:23this may interest you inspector. the murder was done with. I see no marks. there are none.
33:46well how do you know then? the grass was growing under it. it's only been there a
33:50few days. it corresponds with the injuries. and the murderer? he's a tall
33:55man left-handed. limps with the right leg. wears thick sole shooting boots with
34:00square toes. smokes Indian cigars. uses a cigar holder and carries a blunt pen knife
34:06in his pocket. you're a brilliant man mr. Holmes and I wish I had your brains.
34:18your theories are all very well. I'm still not convinced. not this time. we
34:24have to deal with a hard-headed British jury. well you've had your chance
34:28inspector. I'm a practical man mr. Holmes. I cannot undetect a gore around the
34:34country looking for a left-handed gentleman with a gamby leg. must have
34:38become the laughingstock of Cheshire. we shall see. you work your method I shall
34:45work mine. now let us take this morning's work. from my examination of the ground I
34:58gained details as to the personality of the criminal. but how? you know my method.
35:03it is founded upon the observance of trifles. his height I know you might
35:08roughly judge by the length of his strut head his boots by his traces but the
35:11man's lameness. the impression of his right foot was always less distinct than
35:15that of the left. why? because he limped. his left-handedness. a blow was
35:19delivered from immediately behind him yet it was on the left hand side. he must
35:23have been a left-handed man of course. he stood behind that tree during the
35:27confrontation between father and son. he even smoked there. smoked? cigar ash. an
35:37Indian cigar. you will remember my little monograph on the subject of ashes from
35:43pipe cigar and cigarette tobacco? 100 different varieties if I remember. 140
35:50thank you Watson. having discovered the ash I discovered this stump which the
35:57man had thrown among the moss. an Indian cigar rolled in Rotterdam. you will
36:05notice that the end has not been in his mouth. so he used a cigar holder. the tip
36:10has been cut off not bitten but the cut is not a clean one so I deduced a blunt
36:17penknife. amazing. among the words mumbled by the dying man the only word that young
36:28McCarthy could understand was the word rat. rat. hmm. most curious. come with me.
36:45now what do you read? a rat. and now? boy a rat. Ballarat. that is the word the man
37:05uttered. Australia. someone from Ballarat. what is Ballarat known for? Miss
37:11Turner said that her father had met McCarthy on the goldfield. I see the
37:15direction which all this points. an Australian from Ballarat and one who was
37:18at home in the district. perhaps I'm very much mistaken. he's here. mr. John Turner.
37:29mr. Holmes. dr. Watson. my daughter told me you were lodging here. did you get my
37:44note? yes yes something about coming here to avoid a scandal. better than meeting up at the hall.
37:51people might talk. why'd you wish to see me?
37:59oh yes. I know about you and McCarthy. my friend Watson will jot down a few facts. I promise
38:18they'll not be useless. it is absolutely needed. do sit down. you didn't know the
38:35dead man McCarthy. he was a devil incarnate. God keep you out of the
38:43clutches of a man such as he. his grip has been upon me these many years and
38:47he's blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to Benny's power. I was in the
38:57early 60s at the diggings. I was a young chap then. hot-blooded and reckless. well
39:04I had no luck with my claim. took to the bush and became what you'd call a highway
39:10robber. there's a little gang of us. lived a wild free life of it. sticking up a
39:17station from time to time or stopping the wagon on the road from the diggings.
39:21they called me Black Jack of Ballarat. I believe they still remember the Ballarat
39:27gang and the colony.
39:47the wagon driver was McCarthy and I spared him. get out of it. go on shift. do a botany.
39:58fast.
40:17we got away with the gold. my mate and I were wealthy men beyond the dreams of
40:27avarice. there was... there was... there was a price on our heads. I decided to make for
40:47England. I determined to settle down to a quiet and respectable life. I bought this
40:56estate. it included the whole village even was in his mind. I set myself to do a
41:01little good with my money to make up for the way in which I'd earned it. I married.
41:07and though my darling wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. I was a
41:16happy man you might say until McCarthy laid his grip upon me. he followed my
41:23trail. when he first came here he'd hardly a coat to his back or a boot to
41:28his foot. here we are Jackie said. you can have the keeping of us. me and my little
41:35boy. and if you don't England's a fine law-abiding country and there's always a
41:43policeman Andy. I was a sitting duck for Blackmail. there was no shaking him off.
41:50there was no rest, no peace, no forgetfulness. turn where I would there
41:55was his cunning grinning face at me elbow. whatever he wanted he must have
41:59and whatever it was I gave him without question. land, money, houses. till at last
42:08he asked a thing I could not give. he asked for Alice. his son and my girl had
42:16grown up. he knew I was in weak health. seemed a fine stroke to him that his son
42:22should step into the whole property. there I was firm. I would not have his
42:29cursed stock mixed with mine. not that I'd any dislike for the lad but his
42:34father's blood was in him and that was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened.
42:41I braved him to do his worst. arranged to meet at the Mere halfway between our
42:48two houses to talk it over. as I listened to his talk all that was black and
42:56bitter seemed to come uppermost. he was urging his son to marry my daughter with
43:00as little regard for what she might think as a slut from off the streets.
43:06it drove me mad to think that I and all that I held dear should be in the
43:12power of such a man. it's my life and I'm gonna run it the way I like. I was a
43:17dying and desperate man. if I could silence that foul tongue I could still
43:22save me and my family's reputation in this valley. get off out of it.
44:06Mr. Holmes and I would do it again. deeply though I've sinned I've lived a
44:13life of martyrdom to atone for it. and my girl should become entangled in the same
44:19meshes which held me was more than I could suffer. I struck him down with no
44:24more compunction than if he'd been some foul and venomous beast. that's the true
44:35story gentlemen. of all that occurred.
44:48it is not for me to judge you but I hope that we may never be exposed to such
44:52temptation. I pray not sir. I'm a dying man. I've had the diabetes for years.
45:05my doctor says it's a question of whether I shall live a month. yet I'd
45:11rather die under my own roof than in a jail.
45:13Dr. McCarthy must be got off however. oh God help me but I wouldn't let that
45:18young man come to harm. I'll give you my word that I'd have spoken out if it went
45:24against him at this Isis. I'm very glad to hear you say so. I'd have spoken now
45:28had it not been for my dear girl. I would break her heart. I'll break her
45:39heart when she hears that I'm arrested. it may not come to that. we are not the
45:46police. I am no official agent. I'm here at your daughter's request. Alice. Alice.
46:02what do you intend to do? in view of your health nothing. you are yourself
46:10aware that you'll have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the
46:12Isis. if young McCarthy's condemned I shall be forced to use this confession.
46:19if not it will never be seen by mortal eye and your secret whether you be alive
46:26or dead shall be safe with her.
46:42farewell then. your own deathbeds when they come will be the easier for the
47:02thought of the peace that you've given to mine.
47:12God help us.
47:14God help us.
47:16God help us.
47:38Turner John Stewart 16th of August Boscombe Hall Cheshire after a long
47:46illness bravely born beloved father of Alice. now we're free to use that
47:53confession at young McCarthy's trial. no by no means. my promise was it would not
48:01be used unless McCarthy is condemned and I think I've given enough objections to
48:05the charge to ensure his acquittal. I hope so.
49:16I love you. I love you too. will you marry me? yes I will.
49:32a happy ending to a brilliant case. I congratulate you Holmes. I thank you. I
49:47must admit there are certain aspects to this case which even I did not anticipate.