Watson's Tin Box meeting summary - June 15, 2026 - by Olivia Millunzi

On the third Monday of each month, the Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City scion meets at Union Jack's in Columbia MD. As I was traveling, Olivia Millunzi, Tantalus, was kind enough to take minutes and create this post:

On June 15, 2026, Watson’s Tin Box convened at our usual time and place with 26 attendees representing 17 towns and 3 states.  As our fearless leader was on adventures down under, our guest Gasogene was Karen Wilson, and this report is being guest-written by Olivia Millunzi.  We were pleased to welcome two first-timers, Tom Hill and Meg Hill-Grigson, as well as officially welcoming new member Breier Scheetz, who has passed the rigorous Watson’s Tin Box initiation of attending two meetings.

This month we discussed the “Missing Three-Quarter”, and as we introduced ourselves we were asked to give our saddest or most tragic death from the canon in honor of the story.  Answers included young Oppenshaw, a variety of dogs (there are 4 canine deaths in the canon), Brenda Tregannis, both Sherlock and Moriarity, Hilton Cubit (“he was trying to save his wife!”), Mary Morston-Watson, Cadogan West, Jack Douglas, Mrs. Staunton, Elsie Cubit (“well…she tried…”), Mrs. Staunton (“She wasn’t even named!”), “the twin from Sign of Four”, “the Thor Bridge wife”, and “the Greek Interpreter brother”.

The traditional Toast to the Woman was given by Liane Luini, reading a limerick toast originally by Tin Boxer Kim Ord published in the 2018 issue of Irene’s Cabinet. 

A Toast to The Woman: A Limerick

by Kim Ord - from Irene's Cabinet, Volume 16, 2018

The photograph the woman did hide.

A situation the king could not abide.

In disguise, Holmes used smoke.

The woman saw the joke,

And made her escape as a new bride.

Tom Fahres delivered his traditional monthly haiku while proudly wearing his USA Rugby jersey:
Lord James Mount Gives
Holmes a Plan for Retirement
Mind Your Own Beeswax

We also sold the final Watson’s Tin Box tote bag!  Only 4 Tin Box pins remain at the low price of $10 (Matt will work on ensuring we have new supplies).  Plenty of the new 2026 issue of Irene’s Cabinet remain for sale, black and white for $10 and color for $15.  

Announcements

• Nea Dodson told us the “Morbidly Curious” Youtube channel has a new interview with Lindsey Fitzharris about her forthcoming book on Dr. Joseph Bell, the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes.  You can watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFD_WN5defc. 

• The Tea-Brokers of Mincing Lane have reached the funding goal for their scion pin, and pre-orders are still available for $10 each. Everything raised after covering the cost of manufacture and post will be donated to the Beacon Society in memory of Jacquelyn Bost-Morris and Dora Nash, two recently lost Tea-Brokers.  All interested parties should contact Lauren Cerone via https://www.facebook.com/groups/648134899299548/.

• The Sherlock Whisky & Tobacco Sodality will meet June 28 at 2 pm in Shelly’s Back Room at 1331 F St NW, Washington, DC.

• Tin Boxer Michelle March’s dad wanted her to pass along an item that “while not Sherlock, is murder!  You guys like that!”.  The Olney Theater has a forthcoming production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” July 2-August 23.  For more information and tickets see https://theatrewashington.org/shows/gentlemans-guide-love-and-murder. Also, the Michelle Pun Count for the evening was 7.

• Michael and his wife recently visited Montreal and saw the traveling “Sherlock International” exhibit, which they highly recommend.  Among the many artifacts from Conan Doyle and 221B Baker Street, you can solve a murder using tools of Sherlock’s time.  You can learn more here: https://pacmusee.qc.ca/en/exhibitions/detail/sherlock-holmes/. 

While “Missing Three-Quarter” has had lots of radio adaptations, there was only 1 silent film adaptation we could find on record.  In 2025, the podcast Sherlock and Company adapted the story featuring current British footballers as the sportscasters.  

Our conversation covered a variety of topics, including the history of rugby, the mysterious chronology of the story (why is it in February??), and the shameful gap in Sherlock’s knowledge that the story reveals - who knew he would need information on something so pedestrian as popular sports?  We also debated whether there was truly a “crime” in the story, and why Hopkins chose not to get involved, before ultimately concluding as a group that this story shows a more human side of Sherlock, who appears to be playing the fool to stall for time for Godfrey Staunton.  

The evidence box was presented by Debbie Clark, during which Karen and I realized that all of our fingerprints are now on many pieces of evidence for these 60 canonical crimes! Here are a few examples of evidence in this box:

Left: Pictured is the tin box Holmes used to store notes and mementos of hispast adventures. Right: Pictured is the key and 3 coins found in the squat, brass-bound, woodenbox in the Subterranean chamber at Hurlstone Manor.

Left: Pictured is the peg of wood and ball of string which Holmes used duringhis following of the Musgrave Ritual. Right: Pictured is the Musgrave Ritual, a family secret, which contained thedirections to find the Musgrave Treasure.

We enjoyed a presentation from Liane Luini on “Canine Scentwork in the Canon.”  We learned about scent-work in historic and modern settings, the 5 canonical scent-workers (Pompey, Toby, Roy, Lady Beatrice’s Spaniel, and The Hound), and Liane’s own experience with scent-work alongside her own Hound, Kara. 

Liane revealed that in scent-work, the humans are referred to as either handlers or “dopes at the end of the rope”- Sherlock by far being a true handler.  We also learned about drag hunting, a sport where packs of dogs follow an artificial scent rather than a live animal as in fox hunting;  the scent used is aniseed, Sherlock’s perfect choice in “The Missing Three-Quarter.”.

Some new items from Australia - 2026

I've arrived in Australia for a family visit. Every now and then, if I see something in Australia I'll order it and have it delivered to my parents in Sydney, knowing that at some point I'll be able to pick up the books when I visit (or when they visit me).

So today was an unboxing day as I arrived in Sydney - here are some of the things:

'Sherlock Holmes and Music' by Guy Warrack, 1947. I'm confident I purchased this because it's in a beautiful dust jacket. Warrack was a Scottish composer, music educator and conductor.

This is James Montgomery's 1953 Christmas Annual. On right is a magnification of the delightful illustration with a hansom cab.

Bill Barnes gifted me this wonderful pin of Sherlock on a map of Australia. Will be wearing this one with pride!

I'd been looking for this printing of the script for Jeremy Paul's 'The Secret of Sherlock Holmes' for quite a while - this edition was printed in 1996.

I hadn't seen this small pamphlet before, published by Favil Press in 1981. It contains a speech by Doyle on the origin of Sherlock Holmes, given at a Stoll Film Studios convention in New York in 1921. I assume Richard Lancelyn Green was involved in the booklets publication, as he signed this copy, dedicated to Michael Pointer (died 1998, an expert on Sherlock Holmes on stage and screen).

'The War in South Africa' published by Smith Elder was a softcover publication. This copy was bound into thick card covers. It's not in great condition, but I loved the pasted title on the cover of the cards.

'A Taste for Honey', 1943, a popular novel describing Sherlock Holmes in retirement.

 Non-Sherlockian, but I love the writings of L.T. Meade and Robert Eustace. 'The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings' was written by the team, but only Meade is listed on the cover. It also has illustrations by Sidney Paget. This early copy has been in Australia a long time - there's a gift dedication from 1909.

 This book is the script of the famous 1925 film of 'The Lost World', published in 1993.

Finally, I recently purchased some books that were owned by Doug Elliott. For me this is special - a signed copy of Basil Rathbone's memoirs. 

Beeton's Magazine in British newspapers

I while back I posted about an Australian newspaper article that referenced the existence of the 1887 Beeton's Christmas Annual in Melbourne in 1933. There is a sentence that captured my attention in that article:

The Sun,  Sunday 19 Mar 1933 
A current list of English first editions, while not quoting a price, states that the Annual is "Practically unique, and copies seldom to be found." So it may be of interest to note that the copy from which the illustration is reproduced was recently picked up for three pence on a Melbourne market stall. There are still first edition bargains available to the collector with sufficient enthusiasm — and patience— to hunt them out.

I wanted to know where the quote "Practically unique, and copies seldom to be found" came from. I assume it was from a sale catalog of that listed a Beeton's (such as Magg's Brothers), but I have not tracked it down yet.

Anyway, I wondered whether there were such examples of mentions of the 1887 Beeton's in British newspapers.

Exmouth Journal - Saturday 28 May 1892

Mr. CONAN DOYLE has certainly no reason to complain of the reception of his "Study in Scarlet," which was originally discovered by the late Mr. G. T. Bettany, MA., B.Sc., formerly literary adviser to Messrs. Ward, Lock, Bowden and Co. The MS. of the story (Mr. Conan Doyle's first, by the way), came under Mr. Bettany's notice in the ordinary course of events, but interested him so keenly that be sat up all night to finish it. Probably other people have followed his example since then, for, brought out as Beeton's Christmas Annual, it achieved an immediate success, and now, illustrated by Mr. George Hutchinson, and published in Messrs. Ward, Lock, and Co.'s. Library Series, it has already gone into a large second edition. A Tauchnitz issue has been arranged for, a German translation is just completed, while a French version is pending. Happy indeed is he who succeeds with his initial effort.

In 'The Bookseller' for 17 December 1900, among the rare books for sale is a listing that Ward, Lock & Co are selling a copy of Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887. Or perhaps multiple copies? Did they find a box of them in the warehouse?

Bookseller - Monday 17 December 1900
WARD, LOCK & CO LTD, Salisbury Square, E.C.

Beeton's Christmas Annual, 1887, containing A Study in Scarlet, by A. Conan Doyle.

Articles in 1934 and 1935 highlight the rarity of the issue almost fifty years after publication.

Birmingham Weekly Mercury - Sunday 25 March 1934

A FEW VALUES. Have you an old junk box tucked away? You never know what money it may bring forth. An early copy of "The Times" will fetch a fabulous sum. "Bradshaw's Railway Timetable" as issued in 1839, is worth £100 a copy.

A first edition of "Treasure Island" may bring in anything up to £150, while the supplement to Beeton's Christmas Annual, issued in 1887 at a few pence, is now worth £50, for it contains "A Study in Scarlet", the first Sherlock Holmes story ever written.

Bookseller - Wednesday 16 October 1935

That this interpretation of the term "first edition," in relation to this particular problem, is usually accepted by collectors and the trade is clearly shown by the market price of the Lippincott's Magazine printing of Dorian Gray, as compared with that of the first English edition, the following year. Yet in an exactly analogous case their verdict has been for the other side. The Beeton's Annual printing of A Study in Scarlet is no more a first edition than the Lippincott's printing of Dorian Gray : but it is widely described, priced and sold as the first edition. The fact that the real first edition (1888) is almost impossibly rare may be the reason, but it is not a good reason.

      

As the 1951 London exhibition was being created, important items was sought for display. The organizers apparently could not source a Beeton's Christmas Annual, nor a Strand Magazine with the first short story - so a newspaper article put out the call.

A check of the 1951 catalog suggests that a Beeton's may not have been found - but they did exhiit a very rare second edition.

Evening News (London) - Tuesday 15 May 1951

WANTED. For inclusion in the other part of the exhibition two items are urgently sought. One is a copy of Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887, in which the first Sherlock Holmes story, "A Study in Scarlet" appeared; the second is a separate copy of the Strand Magazine for July 1891 in which the first of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes appeared.

EDIT: In the original version of this post I asked "Did Adrian Conan Doyle not inherit a Beeton's from ACD? Did ACD own a copy of Beeton's?" Well, Peter Blau has now pointed out to me that Randall Stock's list of all known copies of Beeton's Christmas Annual includes 'R19', that ACD's daughter Dame Jean Conan Doyle inherited her father's copy, which is bound and signed with the note "Return to Dr A. Conan Doyle."

What do you do if you don't have a Beeton's? Advertise in the wanted column! That's what Lord Donegall did - and it may have worked, as he certainly owned at least one copy. I can find at least three examples of this advertisement in newspapers:

Ross-shire Journal - Friday 10 April 1953

PLEASE search your attics for "Study in Scarlet", with 8 illustrations by Charles Doyle: publishers Ward and Lock (1888, paper covered unless privately bound); also Beeton's Xmas Annual 1887; "Sign of Four" Spencer, Blackett (1890, frontispiece by Charles Kerr), and Lippincott's Magazine, Feb 1890, Lord Donegall, Apply, No.41, Journal, Dingwall.

And finally, 1 1972 articles touches on Beeton's and the rarity of the 1887 issue.

Illustrated London News - Thursday 02 November 1978

At least two Beeton's Annuals made a kind of history. The issue for 1872, "The Coming K---" boldly satirized the then Prince of Wales in verse. Such was the enormous demand that copies were changing hands at a sovereign each within a month of publication. Fifteen years later (1887) Beeton published the first Sherlock Holmes story, bound up with a couple of drawing room playlets. Entitled A Study in Scarlet, this shilling booklet is now so rare that a perfect copy might sell for around 1,000 pounds. It was subsequently published again in various editions and was given away with the Windsor Magazine Christmas number, 1895.

ACD in Chicago

I'm in Chicago for a very short period of time, and had a few brief hours to take a leisurely walk. I decided to spend that time visiting two sites that Conan Doyle had frequented in Chicago.

Doyle visited the US three times - 1894, 1922 and 1923. On the second and third visits, Doyle visited Chicago and lectured there.

Where did he stay? Well, we have some window into this, and ACD wrote books about his visits.

In Our American Adventure published on 16 March 1923 (Hodder & Stoughton Ltd), Doyle covered his stay in Chapter 11. There, Doyle says that:

"Chicago is the very noisiest city I have ever known. It is a serious drawback to its amenity. All the pavements seem to rumble, all the trains whistle, the taxis hoot, the brakes grind, and the wheels scream. It has other disadvantages in that the Blackstone Hotel at which we stayed is the most expensive and least accommodating that we had met. It is meant for millionaires and we were out of the picture. Our rooms alone cost a good ten pounds a day, and the service of a meal cost as much as a meal itself would have done in England."

Chicago Tribune, Sun, May 21, 1922 ·Page 5

Chicago Tribune, Tue, May 23, 1922 ·Page 9

The Blackstone Hotel is on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Drive, across from Grant Park that sits astride Lake Michigan. The hotel was opened in 1910, and hosted many well-known guests, and Al Capone held meetings there.

While the hotel was significantly renovated in the early 2000s, it still displays a beautiful exterior and the lobby retains original features.

In the not-imaginatively titled Our Second American Adventure published on 16 15 Feb 1924 (Hodder & Stoughton Ltd), Doyle covered his stay in Chapter 3. Doyle mentions that he was staying at 'the Auditorium which was our tryst in Chicago'.

The Auditorium Building housed a hotel, office space... and an auditorium. It was completed in 1889, and it still stands today. Since 1947, the Auditorium Building has been part of Roosevelt University - it is a National Historic Landmark and still standing. I entered, and explained to the security guard that "this used to be a hotel" and she let me take a few photos.

These two hotels were about two blocks apart, so Doyle had a local stomping ground in Chicago in the 1920s. 

I like to see spaces and know someone like ACD walked there too, had a drink there too... and did things I wouldn't like a seance.

I'll try and identify a few more locations such as those where he gave his lectures.

George Budd's bride

I've written about George Budd in Plymouth, and I've written about what became of his family after his death. I've even drafted an article on rugby in Doyle's world that touches on the Budd family - that will take a while to appear.

There is one other point of intrigue for me. In Doyle's 'Memories and Adventures', he wrote:

When I met him first he had just indulged in one of his wild escapades, which ended usually in a fight or in a transitory appearance in a police court, but on this occasion was more serious and permanent. He had run off with a charming young lady and married her, she being a ward in Chancery and under age. However, the deed was done and all the lawyers in the world could not undo it, though they might punish the culprit. He told me how he and the lady had gone over a Bradshaw with the intention that when they came on a station of which neither of them had ever heard, they would make for that place and spend their honeymoon there. They came therefore upon some awful name, Clodpole-in-the-Marsh or something of the kind, and there they sojourned in the village inn. Cullingworth stained his yellow hair black, but the stain took in some places and not in others, so that he looked as if he had escaped from Barnum’s show. What Clodpole-in-the-Marsh could have thought of such an extraordinary couple I cannot imagine, and it is probably the one occasion on which it ever buzzed. I cannot think of any surer way of getting publicity than that which Cullingworth took to avoid detection. In London they would have been perfectly unobserved. I remember that for years Cullingworth’s hair presented curious iridescent tints which were the remains of his disguise.

He brought his bride safely to Edinburgh, where they hired a flat and lived in it without furnishing it save for the absolutely needful. I have dined with them there on an apple dumpling, seated on a pile of thick volumes as there was no chair. We introduced them to a few friends, did what we could for the lonely lady, and finally they drifted off, and for a time we heard no more.

OK. So as a reminder Doyle changed Budd's name to Cullingworth (for the Stark Munro letters) so there was still some sensitivity.

Let's look at George Budd's bride Kate. Doyle says that 'He had run off with a charming young lady and married her, she being a ward in Chancery and under age' and further that 'he brought his bride safely to Edinburgh' indicating this was not an Edinburgh marriage. Where was she from, how old was she, and why was she a ward in Chancery?

Side-bar: what is a ward in Chancery? A ward in chancery is a historical English legal term for a minor or an incapacitated person whose care, property, and legal affairs are placed under the direct protection and supervision of a Court of Chancery. The court essentially acts as a guardian, making major life decisions on their behalf.

The UK BDM indexes reveal that Arthur Budd married Kate Russell in 1879 in London. Here is their marriage certificate:

Quarter: Sep 1879, District: Strand, Volume: 1b, Page: 1023

1879 Marriage solemnized at the Registrar Office in the District of Strand in the County of Middlesex. No. 78.

When married: Twenty first September 1879

Groom name and surname: George Budd, age 24 years

Condition: Bachelor

Rank or profession: Civil engineer

Residence at time of marriage: 11 Craven street, Strand

Father's name and surname: William Budd, Doctor of Medicine

Bride name and surname: Kate Russell, age 18 years

Condition: Spinster

Rank or profession: -

Residence at time of marriage: 12 Percy Villas, Norwood

Father's name and surname: Gustavus Russell (deceased), Major in Her Majesty's Army

In the presence of: Anthony Hart, Chas Cooke 

While this may have been presented as a fly-by-night operation, George certainly did not mis-represent himself. One point of confusion is that Budd is listed as an engineer. It certainly explains his interest in patenting that is seen in his later activities, but he clearly moved across to medicine quickly afterwards.

Now that we know something of Kate, we can learn after some diffing into the records that in the 1871 census the Russell family was living at the Priory, Heene, Sussex, with birthplaces reinforcing the life of a British colonial military man whose family travelled with him:

John G Russell, 50, Retired Officer of the Army, born France

Caroline A Russell, wife, 37, born London

Louisa A Russell, daughter, 15, born East Indies (twin)

Caroline E Russell, daughter, 15, born East Indies (twin)

Kate Russell, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Surrey

Some searching reveals that John Gustavus Russell served in the Madras Army (Indian Army), that he was indeed born in France. He clearly maintained connections to France, as it took a lot of searching to find he died in France in 1877, as shown in the UK Probate Calendar (estate valued at less than 100 pounds).

With the passing of 'Gustavus' (John G) we learn in the 1881 census that the widowed Caroline is living at 12 Percy Villas on Woodland Rd in Norwood - just as stated in Kate's 1879 marriage certificate! Along with Caroline is her daughter Louisa, aged 25, and a servant.

Caroline A Russell, 47, receiving pension as Officer's widow

Lousa, daughter, 25, unmarred

The residence suggests a fairly modest living. Kate was honest in the information she provided, right down to where she lived with her mother and sister. So perhaps Kate was not a ward in Chancery - perhaps she needed permission to marry and this wasn't received by her mother?

Let's look at Kate's birth to determine her age. Kate was baptized at St John's Church, Egham, Surrey in 1861.

Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Egham in the County of Surrey in the year 1861.
Baptized Jan 29, Kate 

Parents John Gustavus and Caroline Augusta Russell

Father's occupation: Major in the Army 

I cannot find a civil registration for Kate Russell, but if we assume she was born in January 1861, then in September 1879 Kate was indeed 18. 

The age of consent for marriage was 21. In England in 1879, an 18-year-old woman was still considered a minor for marriage purposes, so parental or guardian consent was generally required for a lawful marriage by licence or after banns. Perhaps Kate married without consent of her mother - the marriage certificate does not mention consent, but the registrar performed the marriage. Perhaps papers were forged - if there was opposition, then it's definitely the case that elopements were almost impossible to reverse. Making the dash for Edinburgh does support the notion that the marriage was not approved by Kate's family.

--------

Is there any literary influence in this story?

Well, of course we have Stark Munro letters.

Looking a little deeper, there is one location that appears in a later story. In the last chapter of Hound of the Baskervilles, when Holmes is giving background on the Stapletons.

“It is possible that Stapleton did not know of the existence of an heir in Canada. In any case he would very soon learn it from his friend Dr. Mortimer, and he was told by the latter all details about the arrival of Henry Baskerville. Stapleton's first idea was that this young stranger from Canada might possibly be done to death in London without coming down to Devonshire at all. He distrusted his wife ever since she had refused to help him in laying a trap for the old man, and he dared not leave her long out of his sight for fear he should lose his influence over her. It was for this reason that he took her to London with him. They lodged, I find, at the Mexborough Private Hotel, in Craven Street, which was actually one of those called upon by my agent in search of evidence. Here he kept his wife imprisoned in her room while he, disguised in a beard, followed Dr. Mortimer to Baker Street and afterwards to the station and to the Northumberland Hotel. His wife had some inkling of his plans; but she had such a fear of her husband—a fear founded upon brutal ill-treatment—that she dare not write to warn the man whom she knew to be in danger."

It may just be a coincidence of course.... after all Craven Street is in the Strand area, but I like the fact that George Budd sprung Kate Russell and made a break for it - the opposite of Jack Stapleton's imprisonment of his wife.