WAS SHERLOCK HOLMES A CRIMINAL ? by A. Roy Mukherjee

Part – IX (Concluding Part).

We must now judge the character and identity of Sherlock Holmes in the light of the analysis as above. We must see his relationship with the petty street criminals like Higgins and the boys afresh. It was a close relation no doubt. Those boys were almost at his beck and call. They obeyed him like their own master and addressed him as “Yes, Guv” which was the normal language of address meant for the leader in the under-world. Admittedly, Holmes was not a retired police officer choosing the profession of a consulting detective, so that he could utilize and maintain his connections made during the service period. The credulous fans would argue that he had to keep the connections to keep himself abreast of the happenings in the crime world. It is perfectly all right for the police or detective department or any other government agencies to keep or develop moles and informers in the criminal world. But does it equally be in order and possible for a private consulting detective? How will he develop the contact? We know that Holmes operated alone and not in the style of detective agencies of modern times. He was a private consulting detective only. “The only unofficial consulting detective. The last and the highest court of appeal in detection”. His knowledge about the foreign spies operating in the country is equally shrouded in mystery. (Second Stain). In normal circumstances we find that even the government’s espionage department officials do not always have knowledge of the identities of foreign spies. The moment someone’s identity is doubted, the man is shadowed. His identity is not disclosed to any outsider and is arrested only if caught red-handed. But in Second Stain we find that the immediate reaction of Sherlock Holmes after hearing the case was of not only knowing the names and identities of those foreign spies but also that he had the knowledge that the heads of espionage departments of three foreign countries were then present in England. How could he have the knowledge unless he himself was attached with the espionage department of a country ? It was nowhere disclosed that he was so attached with the government agency of his own country. His addiction to drugs and methods of procuring the drugs are also not clear. From the story of Charles Augustus Milverton we know of his hands in burglary. The blue curbuncle, the valuable jewel which he got by chance through Peterson was not handed over to its owner the Countess of Morcar. His relationship with Langdel Pike, the journalist, who used to collect and publish spicy and scandalous news items in newspapers also raises doubt about his integrity and character. And finally there is no doubt that he murdered Professor Moriarty in cold blood.

But all said and done, Sherlock Holmes was a successful person. He was successful everywhere and in all respect and with wonder, we may watch the reaction of Colonel Sebastian Moran, when caught. His only words were “….you fiend ! you clever, clever fiend ! you cunning, cunning fiend !”

Perhaps Colonel Moran was the only person during his time to correctly assess Sherlock Holmes.

C O N C L U D E D