George Budd in Plymouth

In early 1882, Doyle spent a crazy six weeks or so working for the eccentric and deceptive George Budd in his practice in Plymouth. In Doyle's 'Memories and Adventures', he wrote:

In a book written some years afterwards called “The Stark Munro Letters,” I drew in very close detail the events of the next few years, and there the curious reader will find them more clearly and fully set out than would be to scale in these pages. I would only remark, should any reader reconstruct me or my career from that book, that there are some few incidents there which are imaginary, and that, especially, the whole incident of the case of a lunatic and of Lord Saltire in Chapter IV occurred to a friend and not to myself. Otherwise the whole history of my association with the man whom I called Cullingworth, his extraordinary character, our parting and the way in which I was left to what seemed certain ruin, were all as depicted. I will here simply give the essentials of the story, and retain the fictitious name.

Budd was the true name of that doctor. Budd was a fellow Edinburgh medical student of Doyle, a rambunctious rugby player, and hBudd had eloped with an underage woman (i.e., without permission) and brought her from London to Edinburgh in disguise. After completion of studies, Budd went to Bristol to practice (his father was a well-known physician) but it failed. Budd convinced his creditors to give him time to repay them, and moved on to Plymouth.

I thought I'd take a look at Budd's time in Plymouth, and identify some newspaper articles that captured his time there. 

Part of Budd's business practice was to offer free consultations, but dramatically prescribe and over-prescribe medications, that he himself sold. This questionable practice led to dramatic success, and Budd convinced Doyle to join him there, against the advice of others. 

The newspaper articles for 1881 announce Budd's arrival, demonstrate that his qualifications were questioned by more conventional practitioners (perhaps concerned at the loss of business), and also show that in late 1881 the Budd's welcomed a daughter into the family.

Western Morning News - Wednesday 30 March 1881

Dr. Budd may be consulted free at his residence, 1. Durnford-street, from 11 am to 1 pm daily.

Western Morning News - Saturday 03 September 1881

SEVERAL Medical Practitioners in the Three Towns having thought it their business to assert that I am not a properly qualified Medical Man, I beg to state that I hold Two Degrees, the one. in Medicine, the other in Surgery. These Degrees I took at Edinburgh University upon the 2nd of August, 1880, and those who have had their doubts on the subject may inspect the said Degrees at my residence, at Twelve a.m., from the 12th to the 20th of this month.

GEORGE BUDD, 1, Durnford-street, Stonehouse, September 1st, 1881. 

Western Morning News - Wednesday 19 October 1881

WANTED, on a lease a farm of about 30 acres, within 5 miles of Plymouth. - Apply Dr. Budd, 1, Durnford-street, Plymouth.

Exeter Flying Post - Wednesday 16 November 1881

BIRTHS. November 12 at Durnford-street, Stonehouse, the wife of Dr George Budd, a daughter.

In 1882, when Doyle had joined Budd for 6 weeks, Budd appeared in the papers writing letters to the editor with grievances over the market inspector and some dodgy pork he had purchased, continuing to advertise his 'gratis days' , and complaining that he was insulted by the tax collector (did he protest too much or was he experiencing financial trouble?). 

Western Morning News - Monday 23 January 1882

WANTED, a woman servant, in a farm near Plymouth to milk a cow, and make butter. Dr. Budd, 1, Durnford street, Stonehouse.

Western Morning News - Thursday 06 April 1882

THE DUTIES OF MARKET INSPECTOR.

Sir - To-day my servant purchased of W. H. Ross, in the Plymouth Market, a piece of pork. It smelt, and sharing the somewhat common opinion that smelling meat is not a desirable commodity I sent it back to the shop. They refused to take it, Whereupon seeing that the meat, both in appearance and odour, was in an evident state of decomposition. I decided to push the matter further. Imagine my surprise when Mr Julian, the inspector of the Plymouth Market, told me that be knew nothing about meat, as he was not a butcher. If he is prepared to make a similar declaration with regard to vegetables and the rest, he is certainly an inspector in the same sense as Mr. Pecksniff was a surveyor. Mr. Peeksniff, be it remembered, surveyed the country from his window. Mr. Julian seems simply to inspect the market. Mr. Julian sent for two neighbouring butchers, who pronounced the meat to be sour but eatable. Such evidence may be taken for what it is worth. It is a curious fact that all the persons other than butchers who, at my request, smelt the meat without exception said that they should be very sorry to eat it. These were some nine in number. If ever the post of inspector for the Plymouth market should fall vacant I would suggest that a person chosen who possesses some knowledge of provisions and their condition.

GEORGE BUDD, 6, Eliiott-terrace, Plymouth, April 5th.

Western Morning News - Monday 10 April 1882

THE GREAT PORK MYSTERY. 

Sir, The ways of the inspector of the Plymouth Market appear more mysterious than ever.

The piece of pork to which I have alluded was in my presence cut up while under examination (by the two butchers) in the market. Some needy and apparently greedy persons in the crowd said they would like to try it. I thereupon distributed the portions among them, hoping that indigestion might punish their temerity. How these pieces of pork have re-collected themselves and found their way into Mr. Julian's hands will perhaps remain for ever a mystery. In the meantime I beg to  question the identity of the pork which Mr. Julian sold at petty sessions yesterday had been examined by Dr. Greenway, and pronounced sound.

Yours truly, GEORGE BUDD. 

6 Elliott-terrace, Plymouth, April 9th, 1882. 

Western Morning News - Tuesday 11 April 1882

To lighten my work on GRATIS DAYS during the summer months I will see patients FREE from nine to ten a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (other hours as before.)

GEORGE BUDD

1, Durnford-street, Stonehouse, April 7th, 1882

Western Morning News - Friday 11 August 1882

INCOME-TAX COLLECTION

This month I received a demand- the Ist of th A foot. note for income-ta: appended thereto stated that the office was at 29, Union-street Stonehouse, and that the duties would be received there between the hours of two and four o’clock on Wednesdays, and six and eight on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The notice added that “the collector is required to call once only.” This demand-note was presented to me for the first time upon August 1st and during the few days which have since elapsed the collector, Charles Davis, has called at my house no fewer than five times. To-day he brought matters to a climax by calling at my house in my professional hours and refusing to leave my study. I sent for a policeman, and this energetic collector thereupon departed, calling oat in a loud voice that he would immediately, put a man in possession, This happened within the hearing of many of my patients. Now, the demand-note stated that the tax could be paid at the office on Wednesdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the plural number implying that no immediate payment was required. Yet within eight days from the first presentation of the note the collector called, and threatens to put a man in possession. I may add that I had, when the collector called, promised to send the money to the office as the note requested. I write to you in the public interest, for I see no reason why a heavily-taxed community should be subjected to unnecessary insult.— Yours truly, G. BUDD, 1, Durnford-street, Stonehouse, August 10th. 

In 1883, Budd appears to again experience financial rumors, and has to deny that he is bankrupt Budd had his practice at Elliott-terrace, and removed his practice to his home at Durnford-street. On the other hand, an advertisement appeared stating that three years after leaving Clifton (Bristol) Budd had settled his debts with his creditors from those days. 

Western Morning News - Tuesday 10 April 1883

Whereas certain malicious persons have thought it their business to invent and propagate a malicious slander concerning me, to wit that I had gone Bankrupt and left Plymouth I hereby offer a REWARD of 50 pounds to anyone who shall give evidence that shall lead to the conviction of the same.

The truth of the matter is that I am removing to 1, Durnford-street, and am disposing of some of my surplus furniture. 

I have treated over 90 Patients at my residence to-day.

GEORGE BUDD, Bachelor of Medicine, 1 Durnford-street 

Western Morning News - Tuesday 18 September 1883

We hereby state that Dr. GEORGE BUDD, formerly of Clifton, but now of 1, Durnford-street, Plymough, has honourably and of his own free will DISCHARGED HIS DEBTS to us, though he was not legally bound to do so. 

(Signed) Samuel Shirley; Hancock and Co.; James Wise; John Cordeux, Sons and Were.

Clifton, Bristol, Sept 14th.

In 1884, onwards, Budd was selling his blood tonic preparation. The advertisement mentions the tonic was used in "the remarkable cure of Dropsy effected by him in September 1881, which was classed in the Three Towns Almanack as one of the chief local events of the year". I haven't been able to find this publication yet to read the account - but it lines up with the tales Doyle told of getting the town talking as the best alternative to advertising (which was not allowed).

Western Morning News - Tuesday 06 May 1884

Dr. Budd's BLOOD TONIC

The medicine is prepared from a prescription designed by Dr. Budd, of Plymouth.

It possesses extraordinary power in renovating the Blood and is clearing it from impurities.

It is identical  medicine prescribed by him in the remarkable cure of Dropsy effected by him in September, 1881, which was classed in the Three Towns Almanack as one of the chief local events of the year.

A bottle containing twenty doses forwarded to any address (carriage paid) on receipt of Post-office order for Three Shillings and Threepence, payable to

Dr. George Budd

1, Durnford Street, Plymouth

In 1888, the Budd family lost a new-born son, and the next year Budd died. 

London Evening Standard - Friday 11 May 1888

DEATHS

BUDD - May 5. at 1. Durnford-street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, William, the infant son of Dr. George Budd, aged five days.

Bristol Times and Mirror - Monday 04 March 1889

Death of Dr. Budd, of Stonehouse - The medical profession will with regret of the death of Dr. George Budd, of Stonehouse. For seven or eight months Dr. Budd has been in indifferent health, but continued to see his patients as late as Saturday week. Overwork brought on congestion of the brain, and he died on Thursday night at the early age of 34 years. The deceased came to Stonehouse about seven or eight years since, and took up his residence at 1, Durnford-street. Son of Dr. Wm. Budd, of Bristol, and nephew to the well- known Dr. John Budd, of Plymouth, he acquired a large private practice, but held no public appointments. From time to time his signature appearedin the local on a great variety ot subjects, and many valuable suggestions in regard to hygiene came from bis pen. Among his con letters on Counter viritants for will be remembered. was an M.B. and Master of Su y at Edinburgh University, and his pathological knowledge was held in much repute. He wrote several les for the medical papers. » the most noteworthy being ‘* Amyloid which appeared in the British Journal, and was afterwards re-published in Brathwait’s Retro- left a widow ana tour children.’’ spects of Medicine,’’ 1879. aNp C.irron 

George Turnavine Budd was buried in Ford Park Cemetery in Plymouth, with a beautiful headstone marking the burial place of Budd and his son William (who died at approximately a week old). The ceramic tile placed in the middle of the headstone is not something I recall seeing before.

George Turnavine Budd

Bornd 3rd November 1855

Died 28th February 1889

Also his son

William 

Born 30th April 1888

Died 5th May 1888

What happened to Budd's wife and children? I'll have a post on that next.

Doylean bucket list

Just imagine you were visiting the UK, and you decided to let your Doylean interests guide the places you visited... what would those places be?

I'd like to collect suggestions, and add them onto this list for that dreamed-of exploration. If someone was driving all over the UK - what are those places worth visiting both obscure and popular?

My preference is to minimize Sherlock things on this list to the most important ones (or perhaps non-London ones), because that is such well-covered territory.

Literary locations - looking for non-Sherlock sites

Brambletye Hotel, Wealden, East Sussex - the hotel Holmes and Watson stay at in Black Peter (and Doyle stayed here too).

Castleton, Derbyshire, and the Blue John Cavern - the village associated with 'The Terror of Blue John Gap'.

Dartmoor, Devon - Hiking across the moor, the setting for The Hound of the Baskervilles and Silver Blaze, featuring various spots that inspired the moody, atmospheric setting. This would include Buckfastleigh parish graveyard where the Cabell tomb. 

Doyle's life 

The ACD Encyclopedia has a list of places Doyle lived that is very useful. I highlighted one or two I'm very interested in: .

Masongill, Yorkshire - Where Doyle's mother lived on the estate of Bryan Charles Waller, and Doyle visited regularly.

Minstead, New Forest District, Hampshire - the grave of Arthur Conan Doyle

Picardy Place, Edinburgh - The birthplace of Conan Doyle. The original building is gone, a statue of Sherlock Holmes stands nearby.

Ruyton-XI-Towns, Shropshire - Doyle lived here for four months in 1878 as a medical student.

Sherlock in Boulder 1903-1904

I have written about the 'Dancing Miners' of Lakeside (part of the Boulder/Kalgoorlie): 

- about the photograph of the LAKESIDE 'miners' and its photographer, which can be read here

- finding an original photograph in Switzerland, and confirming the 'Lakeside Official Staff' in the photo: which can be read here

The Dancing Miners photograph was taken in early 1904 after the story appeared in the January 1904 Strand (December 1903 in the UK). I wanted to look at evidence for Sherlock Holmes around this goldfield city in 1903/1904. Were these miners able to access the Strand Magazine easily? Does newspapers in the area give us a clue to whether Sherlock's popularity entered the local cultural scene?

Yes, it's a deep dive....

Where could you buy the Strand Magazine in the area? In January 1903 an aricle describes Orr's Emporium in Boulder selling magazines, including Strand Magazine. 

The Evening Star (Boulder, WA )  
Tue 10 Feb 1903

NEW MAGAZINES
By yesterday's mail a number of new magazines arrived at Orr's Emporium.

"The Adventures of Etienne Gerard" are continued in 'The "Strand" magazine
as are the stories of the "Sorceress of the Strand." Special articles include one of great interest to footballers on the illegalities of the game, an interesting disclosure of magical illusions and fifty years of the Lyceum Theatre. The illustrated interview this month, is a particularly interesting one, the subject being Mr. F. C. Gould, whose cartoons will teach history to future generations.

Henry Grose himself took photographs for Orr's Emporium for a publication. The Emporium stands today and there are lots of photographs so we know exactly what it looked like:

Orr's Emporium, Boulder, offering newspapers and magazines

The Dancing Men appeared in the UK December 1903 edition, and Robert Veld's work shows that Australian editions appeared one month later. Nevertheless we see the Christmas issue (that contained Dancing Men) described right at the start of 1904 in Kalgoorlie:

The Kalgoorlie Miner
Fri 1 Jan 1904 

CHRISTMAS 'MAGAZINES.

Always possessed ' of features that command popularity the ''Strand Magazine" comes in a particularly acceptable form for its 1903 'Christmas double' number. From the admirably colored front cover to the pretty Pears' soap picture on the back cover , the bulky number is full of good things in fiction, narrative and picture, and holiday needs are specially met by sets of clever original puzzles. In the fiction
department Sherlock Holmes reappears and amazes as of yore.

The Christmas edition with the Dancing Men story was available at Orr's Emporiu  in January 1904:

The Evening Star
Sat 9 Jan 1904

The Christmas numbers of English magazines now, at Orr's, Burt-street, are
of the usual popular standard, and those desirous of securing copies should not delay, for there appears to be a rapid run on them. The "Strand" has for
its special feature another exploit of Sherlock Holmes, for which, by the way,
an American magazine is paying something like four shillings a word. There is plenty of fiction and special articles, but the advertisement competition now procceding in connection with this magazine makes the proportion of business
notices appear too large. Pearson's Xmas effort is a most attractive number. There is some beautiful colored printing and illustrations, some of them of value by reason of their topical nature. The number is decidedly the best special number that has yet appeared.

Along with access to the Strand, there was entertainment. In October 1903, Kalgoorlie hosted William Gillette's spectacular play "Sherlock Holmes". The American actor Cuyler Hastings playing a Sherlock Holmes in the Australian desert is a remarkable thought. The play was of course well-received.

The Kalgoorlie Miner

Mon 19 Oct 1903 

The Kalgoorlie Miner 

Tue 20 Oct 1903 

Under the direction of Mr. J. C. Williamson. Business Manager, Richard Stewart: Touring Manager, J. Farrell.

THE 'SHERLOCK HOLMES'' BOOM.

Brilliant and Emphatic Success of the Clever Young American Actor, MR. CUYLER, HASTINGS, In his 'Masterly interpretation of the Great Detective, Supported by the Full Strength of MR. J. C. WILLIAMSON'S 'SHERLOCK HOLMES' COMPANY.

The Management is delighted to record that a Magnificent Triumph was achieved last evening, when the most successful of all dramas, William Gillette's sensational success,

'SHERLOCK HOLMES '

was presented for the first time before a crowded and delighted audience, who watched this remarkable majestic play with the greatest enthusiasm. The universal opinion : '-The greatest dramatic treat ever witnessed in Kalgoorlie.' Still, in order to carry out the original arrangements of presenting the company's complete repertoire, the management reluctantly announce— The Last Night But One ! The Last Night But One of Mr. Cuyler Hastings as the Great Defective.

The Evening Star (Boulder, WA)
Sat 17 Oct 1903

    

AMUSEMENTS.

"SHERLOCK HOLMES"

Everything is now in readiness for the opening of Mr. J. Williamson's dramatic season in Her Majesy's Theartre, Kalgoorlie, on Monday next. The piece selected for the first night is William Gillette's famous detective drama "Sherlock Holmes," in which Mr. Hastings, who has been lauded by the press, takes the leading part. The season, is strictly limited to 12 nights, and gives evidence of being a great success.  During their short stay the company will appear in six of the leading dramas produced during recent years. The box plan for Sherlock Holmes is now open at Nicholson's and at Hocking and Co.'s Boulder City. Tickets for other parts of the house may be obtained at A. Bressler's, tobacconist, Harmon-street.

The North Coolgardie Herald and Miners Daily News 

Sat 31 Oct 1903 

THE KALGOORLIE SEASON.

KALGOORLIE, October 30.

The Williamson Dramatic Company's season in Kalgoorlie has been a splendid success. Playgoers have been delighted with each successive production, and the company is undoubtedly one of the best that Mr. Williamson has ever got together. The repertoire is such as gives extraordinary scope to all the leading artists. Mr. Cuyler Hastings' interpretation of Gillette's great creation, "Sherlock Holmes," stamps him immediately as one of the finest actors Australia has seen. His performance is in every way a memorable one As Louis Dumont in "Secret Service," John Storm in "The Christian" and Claude Melnotte in "The Lady of Lyons," he has fully mainlained the high opinion created by his acting in the initial production.

So, in this tiny city in the desert, these miners had the same Sherlock entertainment and reading as London. Granted, on a smaller scale, but the Dancing Miners photograph was probably taken four months after the play, and the Strand Magazine was hitting the shelves of Orr's Emporium shortly after readers in England could access it.

Watson's Tin Box meeting summary - March 16, 2026

On the third Monday of each month, the Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City scion meets. Normally that meeting is in person, however at the last moment a virtual meeting was organized......

And so over thirty gathered in storm (on Zoom) and it was a pleasant chance to see some of those occasional distant visitors! We had guests from New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Canada, and California.

Al Hafner became a fully-fledged member with his second meeting, and we welcomed Bill Hussar from Silver Spring for his first meeting!

The story of the meeting was 'The Bruce-Partington Plans'.... but we always start with toasts. And we had quite a few toasts!!

Micah Cover provided a toast to 'The Woman' (with artwork!):

 “Irene,” from the Greek, means "peace," and is also a name used for numerous saints. 

“Adler" is a German name - the perfect irony for besting a King of Germanic background.  It means “eagle,” and it symbolizes strength, courage, and nobility. 

She was a singer in the Imperial Opera of Warsaw but came from New Jersey.  The State Flower is known for seeking sunshine - Violet – and is a perfect nod to the number of times that name appears in the Canon.  

Therefore, she brings us peace.  The comfort knowing that she did the impossible - the Patron Saint of defeating the undefeatable.  Strong, brave, noble, and not just a heroine of the Canon - but of the world.  She symbolizes a light when we usually depend on The Great Detective to shine it.  And while she appears only once, like Violet, she reappears – if only in our imaginations.

My friends, to Irene Adler.

Liane Luini read a toast, originally written by April Curnow, and published in Irene’s Cabinet Volume 5, 2007:

Of all the women we may toast,
There’s none like Mrs. Hudson.
Irene’s cleverer than most,
And yet – ah, Mrs. Hudson.
She’s one we often overlook.
Yet Holmes called her a decent cook,
And she once got him off the hook,
The unsung Mrs. Hudson.

When first she met that dauntless pair
We know as Holmes and Watson,
She certainly was unaware
Of what she’d set her eyes on.
A moody sleuth, an Army doc.
How much could those two run amok?
It must have come as quite a shock
To peaceful Martha Hudson.

Yet valiantly she strove to please
And proved accommodating
To lodgers’ eccentricities
And sundry clients waiting.
She cooked the meals, tidied rooms,
Put up with shag tobacco fumes
And strange explosions, one assumes,
Long-suffering Mrs. Hudson.

When Holmes played sick,
she risked his ire
To summon Dr. Watson.
She feared the poor man might expire
Without such intervention.
He could be masterful and grim,
But she’d grown rather fond of him
And tolerated his every whim,
Soft-hearted Mrs. Hudson.

Holmes needed help to foil Moran.
His ally? Mrs. Hudson.
To outwit Moriarty’s man,
With vigilant attention.
Crawling beneath the window’s light
She turned Holmes’s bust eight times that night.
No fear of bullets put to flight
Intrepid Mrs. Hudson.

By these proofs we may well conclude
This paragon of women
Deserves our heartfelt gratitude
And special commendation:
A tribute in a magazine,
The finest roses ever seen,
Perhaps a medal from the Queen
And, “Well done, Mrs. Hudson.”

Former Gasogene John Sherwood delivered aa toast to Mary Morstan:

Whenever the constabulary

Was baffled by an adversary

And Holmes required a functionary

To apply his methods visionary,

Ah, Mary, you would never tarry

To send your husband off to harry

Cads and villains sanguinary.

Let the wastrels all be wary!

Holmes and Watson, loosed by Mary,

Conquer, capture, thrust and parry,

And verbs throughout the dictionary.

To you, then, wife extraordinary!

You’ve challenged my vocabulary!

Too bad you had that coronary.

Tom Fahres then delivered his traditional Haiku for the story:

Submarine plans. GONE!

Ride the underground for free

but only one time

We then moved on to Announcements 

• At this meeting, Liane Luini the editor of Irene's Cabinet showed off the new 2026 issue. It was to be ON SALE at the meeting, but Zoom doesn't work well for that. Liane acknowledged the wonderful contributions of Jacquelynn Morris and  Carla Coupe to helping bring Irene's Cabinet back to life for WTB. If you can't come to meetings, copies are available for $10 and we mail ! Just email Liane for details.

• I showed a copy of Steve Clarkson's book published in 1996, it includes a pile of WTB meeting quizzes including 60 (one for each story), and a number of the “Mycroft” quizzes too! Illustrations by Paul Churchill reside throughout. 

• Lauren Cercone announced she is creating a new Delaware-based scion: The Tide-waiters of Delaware. For more details or to get on the mailing list, contact Lauren! 
• Evy Herzog announced the the next meeting of the Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes in New York will be on 23rd May.
• Michah Clark announced that if members would like to watch a recording of the closing night of 'Last Case of Doctor Watson' they can get in touch and he can make a link available. "With the aid of the audience and the occult, Doctor Watson investigates the greatest Mystery of all time: Sherlock Holmes. This staged reading radio play invites guests to join Doctor John Watson during what is said to be his final lecture, where he publicly confronts the legacy — and enigma — of Sherlock Holmes. Through séance, deduction, and direct audience participation, Watson ventures into realms both intellectual and otherworldly." The production was written by Michae Clark, who also played the role of Dr. Watson!

  

Johanna Draper Carlson was our guest presenter for the evening originally planning  to be 'in the room', we were lucky that Johanna could Zoom in from Virginia where she was taking shelter. Johanna Draper Carlson is the President of the Notorious Canary-Trainers of Madison, Wisconsin; regularly contributes to Sherlock Holmes magazine; writes a yearly column in The Baker Street Almanac; and is one of the two new executive directors of 221B Con. Johanna established SherlockComics.com on February 21, 2022. She also runs ComicsWorthReading.com, the longest-running independent comic book review site on the internet, and has a Masters Degree in Popular Culture with a focus on fandom studies. Mycroft Holmes is her favorite fictional character. 

Johanna is a massive fan of MYCROFT, and gave a wonderful overview of how Mycroft has been portrayed in movies and comics, and how he has evolved over time, from a very large man to a younger and very lean person. 

 

We examined the evidence box for Bruce-Partington Plans before discussing the story. Given that we met virtually, I created a slide-deck of items - which I'm showing here. As a reminder you can look at all the items here in detail at the Watsons Tin Box website. Everyone loved the emerald tie-pin, and the jemmy, chisel, pistol, and lamp ensure this evidence box is particularly heavy.

  

And so to the discussion of the story. Johanna and I had a wonderful chance to prepare or this month's  story discussion. Last month, we both appeared with Ed Pettit to discuss this very story as part of the Rosenbach series. You can watch it here - and I share the evidence box : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq7fS2CcjAY&t=3944s

The story is one of my favorites in the canon - top 5 easily. Why? It has six of my favorite things in a story: Mycroft, it's a spy story, trains, upper class crime, it's set in London.... and in 1895 with all its swirling fog. The story opens with a slightly bored Holmes, bemoaning the poor state of crime. Before we know it, Sherlock receives a telegram from his brother Mycroft, who is on his way to brief Holmes on the Cadogan West. The man was found by the tracks, with some of the highly sensitive plans for building a submarine in his pocket. Holmes and Watson move through ELEVEN locations in the course of this short story, investigating, interviewing, housebreaking, solving the crime, and catching the crooks. This success results in a reward for Sherlock from a certain gracious lady - the original is shown above from the evidence box.

One of the fun things about this story is how specific the locations are, and true to the geography of London and surrounds. The house where Cadogan-West's body is deposited on top of a train is near the Gloucester street Station. Looking at Google maps, there's really only one small area of exposed rail, shown below, with a row of very large town houses on Cromwell Road backing on to the tracks:

Even better, Google Earth allows us to see the windows right over the tracks at the back of the building!

And finally, the quiz! Well, I don't have the quiz from Olivia yet - but it was a good one!