WAS SHERLOCK HOLMES A CRIMINAL ? by A. Roy Mukherjee

PART – lV

In Charles Augustus Milverton, one Lady Eva Brackwell placed her piteous case in the hands of Sherlock Holmes. Milverton, a dubious blackmailer, was in possession of a few love letters written by Lady Eva in her younger life to a youth. Milverton was then blackmailing her. Her marital and social life was in real jeopardy. Holmes took up the case and requested Milverton to see him. When they met, he pleaded with the blackmailer to have pity on the Lady. But Milverton, a rogue as he was, did not agree to the terms offered by Holmes and when Holmes tried to use force, it was found that Milverton also was armed and nothing would be gained by use of force and rather worsen the matter. Milverton, “with a bow, a smile and a twinkle” was out of the room and Baker Street residence of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes then, having no other alternative, planned to burgle Milverton’s house. On a stormy night, accompanied by Dr. Watson, he burgled into the house of Milverton. While they were there, Milverton was murdered in the same room by another woman and Holmes in a hurry, opened Milverton’s safe with his skill and tools, took all the papers from the safe and poured them all into the fire in the fireplace. Somehow, they escaped and came home. Lady Eva was saved. Holmes’ method was technically criminal, though apparently morally justifiable. On the face of it, it emphasized the magnanimity of his character. But the question remains that why should he take such great risk, the risk of his life and reputation, to save his client, who, it appears, was not totally innocent. The clue to the mystery was in the way Milverton left Holmes’ Baker Street residence, “with a bow, a smile and a twinkle”. It was not only a challenge but also an indication that he had materials in his possession concerning Holmes also. Milverton, during his discussion with Holmes indicated that he had eight or ten similar cases maturing. A little objective overview of the whole case would suggest that Holmes took the risk not so much for saving Lady Eva from social disgrace alone but also to save his own life and reputation. He confessed to Watson “I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal. This is the chance of my life in that direction.” It circumstantially appears that it was not a chance alone but that he had no other choice. For the purpose of this burglary he brought out his “first class uptodate burglary kit with nickel-plated jimmy, diamond-tipped glasscutter, adaptable keys and every modern improvement which the march of civilization demands.” Very very civilized for a consulting detective to possess and use indeed !

Dr. Watson told us that opening of locks and safes was his particular hobby. It may be noted that this peculiar hobby is not like collecting postage stamps or photography. It is inconceivable that he used to purchase safes, now and often, to pursue his hobby. It is absurd that the safe-makers allowed him to fiddle with the safes at their workshops for practice to his satisfaction and it is far more improbable that any safe-owner would have allowed him to fondle with their safes. It is but natural that to unravel a crime, the detective must also think in the same way as the criminal who committed the crime. But should he also acquire the skill, practise it and particularly keep all the tools and implements with him for committing the crime ? It is only natural for a criminal whatever be his social face, standing and reputation. ( .. to be continued)