The Papers of Sherlock Holmes Volume II by David Marcum

Author:David Marcum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes short fiction
ISBN: 9781780924465
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2013
Published: 2013-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

“Constable Worth questioned your brother, Sherrinford, who told him that William discovered the body that morning. While walking toward a distant field, he had happened to glance into the pit as he skirted its edge. Upon seeing the body, he rushed down and ascertained that the man was dead. He then returned to the house, where he informed his father. By that time, a number of farmhands had gathered around them. Sherrinford sent William for the police, saying that he and the hands would guard the body until William returned. Sherrinford then walked to the body’s location with the other men. He made sure that no one approached the body while they awaited the constable’s arrival. He stated that he was aware, Mr. Holmes, of the need to preserve the area around the body.

“Constable Worth is a capable man, a typical rural official and quite observant in his own way. He made a cursory examination of the area. He did not see any signs of footprints or disturbances around the body, although as I have said, we have had no rain for several weeks, and it is unlikely that anything would show on the ground. Worth was unable to even see any of William’s footprints at the immediate site, or any of his own, for that matter.

“The body had a great torn cut on the throat, but strangely there was very little blood around that wound or on the collar of the man’s suit. There was more blood on the man’s back that had soaked through the coat, but a quick examination by Worth did not reveal the nature of that wound. Also, Worth reported that there was very little blood on the ground below the body. I have since verified this, as well as Worth’s conclusion that no footprints were detectable in the hollow. It seems, based on the evidence of the blood, that the fellow was murdered elsewhere and the body was placed there after the fact.

“Worth immediately recognized the murdered man, and asked Sherrinford if he knew who it was, as well. ‘Of course,’ replied Sherrinford. ‘We all know him. It is Davison Wilkies. I have given him and his people permission to camp on my land. They have been here for a week or so.’

“This agreed with Worth’s knowledge of the situation. Wilkies was the leader of a group of a dozen or so odd folk, apparently part of some self-styled religious cult. They had arrived in the area about ten days ago, like a band of gypsies, all traveling in six or eight large wagons pulled by heavy teams of horses. Your brother had given them permission to stay on the Holmes land, although he directed them to the southern side, where the fields are much flatter and more hospitable, and there is access to water from the stream.

“It was common knowledge that Sherrinford had visited with Wilkies at the campsite on a number of occasions, usually in the evening. Your brother stated that he

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