One morning, at breakfast time, my wife and I were dining, when the maid brought in a telegram from Sherlock Holmes, the contents of which were as follows:

Have you been free recently? I just received a call from the West of England regarding the Boscombe Valley massacre. I feel honored to have you come here. This place is really a leisure place with excellent air and scenery. I hope to be able to open it at 11:15 today

Set off from Paddington.

"Honey, what are you going to do?" My wife looked at me across the dining table and asked, "Do you want to go?"

"There are a lot of things waiting for me to do now, and I really don't know whether to go or not."

"Oh, don't worry too much, there is Anstruther, he will help you finish the rest of the work. Your face has not been very good for a while, I think you should change the environment appropriately, this

It will help your health, and you are so concerned about the cases investigated by Sherlock Holmes."

"But thinking about the benefits I have gained from his handling of cases, I would be really sorry if I didn't go." I replied, "If you decide to go, you have to pack your bags immediately, because there is still half the time before departure.

It’s been an hour.”

My military career in Afghanistan has at least given me the habit of being decisive and taking quick action once I make a decision.

Since I had very few daily necessities to carry, I quickly set out with my luggage within half an hour. I got into a taxi and hurried to Paddington Station.

Sherlock Holmes was walking back and forth on the platform, a casual hat tightly buckled on his head. He was wearing a long gray traveling cloak. Against the background of the clothes, his figure looked even more skinny and slender.

.

"Watson, I'm so glad to see you." He said: "It makes a big difference to be with a particularly loyal and reliable friend. The help given by the local government always comes with a certain prejudice.

, or it’s of no use. I’ll buy the tickets, and you go to that corner first and take up two seats.”

Except for the pile of newspapers carried by Holmes, we were the only two passengers in the carriage. He rummaged through the pile of newspapers for a long time, and then began to read and take notes, or fell into deep thought, and waited until

This situation ended only after the car passed Reading Station. Then, he suddenly rolled up all the newspapers and threw them on the luggage rack.

"Do you know anything about this case?" he asked.

"I don't understand it at all. I haven't read the newspaper these days."

"Some newspaper reports in London are too simple. I have been paying attention to the newspapers that have come out recently and want to know more specific information. According to my preliminary estimation, this case should be one of the least simple cases among simple cases."

"Why do you feel like there's something wrong with this?"

"It should be said that it is extraordinary! Generally speaking, the more unusual the problem, the easier it is to find clues. On the contrary, some cases with mediocre performance and no characteristics are difficult to confirm whether it was done by a certain person. However,

The current case has been deemed a serious case of a son murdering his father."

"In other words, this is a murder case?"

Well, that’s how they judged it. But before I investigate this case, I won’t make such a judgment so arbitrarily. Now let me give you a general introduction to the situation of this case that I have learned so far!

In the countryside of Herefordshire, there is a place called Boscombe Valley. It is relatively close to Ross (a county in central and western England). Mr. John Turner is the largest local farmer. In

He made a fortune in Victoria and returned to his hometown several years ago. After returning, he rented one of the farms he owned, Hatherley Farm, to his old acquaintance in Victoria, Mr. Charles McCarthy. Return

Later, due to mutual acquaintance, they became neighbors here. Obviously, because Turner was relatively wealthy, McCarthy became his tenant. However, despite this, they still maintained a very equal relationship with each other on the surface as before.

Relationship. McCarthy gave birth to a son, who is 18 years old this year. Turner also raised a daughter who is the same age as McCarthy’s son. Both of them are currently single fathers. They have always lived a very low-key life, maybe in

Deliberately avoiding any social interactions with nearby locals. The McCarthys are more sporty people, so they can always be seen at the nearby racetrack. The McCarthy family hired two servants, a male

There is a servant and a maid. The Turner family is relatively larger, with about five or six people. The above is the basic information I have about the two families at present. I will introduce some specific information below.

On June 3, that is, around 3 o'clock in the afternoon last Monday, McCarthy left his home at Hatherley Farm and walked to Lake Boscombe, a lake that pours down from the Boscombe Valley.

A small lake formed by streams of water. Just in the morning, he went to Ross with his servant and told the servant that he had to get things done as soon as possible because he had to go to an important appointment at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

, but since going on this date, I haven’t seen him again.

Hatherley Farm is 0.3 kilometers away from Lake Boscombe. At that time, two people saw him passing by this area. The newspaper said that one of them was an old woman, but did not mention the name, and the other was Turner.

William Claude, the gamekeeper of Mr. McCarthy's family. Both men testified sworn that Mr. McCarthy was traveling alone at the time. According to the gamekeeper, not long after Mr. McCarthy passed by, Mr. McCarthy's son James

Mr. McCarthy followed behind with a gun under his arm. He was sure that his father was in the sight of his son who was following him. Later that night, he heard about Mr. McCarthy and thought nothing more about it.

Get through this.

"In addition to gamekeeper William Claude, who saw the McCarthys walking past here with his own eyes, there was another person who also saw them. That was Patience, the daughter of the caretaker of Boscombe Valley Manor.

Moran, she was just 14 years old. Because there were dense woods near Lake Boscombe, and the lake was surrounded by weeds and reeds, she picked flowers in a nearby woods. She said that at that time she

She saw Mr. McCarthy and his son at the edge of the woods near the lake. They seemed to be arguing fiercely about something. She heard Mr. McCarthy yelling at his son; then his son raised his hands, as if he wanted to hit his father.

Seeing their angry looks, she was frightened and ran away. After returning home, she told her mother about the quarrel between the McCarthys in the woods near Lake Boscombe. She was afraid of them.

They would start a fight at any time. But before she could finish her words, Mr. McCarthy's son ran into their house, told them that he found his father dead in the woods, and asked the janitor for help. At that time, the young man was emotionally

He was so excited that he didn't bring his gun or hat, and his right hand and sleeve were stained with fresh blood. So they followed him to the scene of the incident and saw McCarthy's body lying on the grass by the lake.

The deceased's head showed signs of being hit by some heavy and blunt weapon, and the wounds were dented. Judging from the injuries, his son was more likely to hit him with the butt of the gun, and the body was on the grass not far away.

On the road, people saw the gun. Based on the circumstances, the young man was immediately arrested. When he was arraigned on Tuesday, he was convicted of 'premeditated murder' and will be submitted to the District Court in Ross for trial on Wednesday. Now, Ross

The magistrates have referred the case to the circuit court for hearing, and that is how the case was dealt with by the coroner and Ross Court."

I immediately said: "It is beyond my imagination that there is such a vicious case. If the facts that happened at the scene can be used as evidence for conviction, this case can be said to be suitable."

After listening to my words, Holmes said thoughtfully: "The evidence at the scene is unreliable. Although it seems to be able to directly confirm something, as long as the conditions are slightly changed, you will find that it is also true."

The opposite can be proven! However, I have to admit that the current development of the case is very unfavorable for this young man. Maybe he is the murderer. But several people nearby, including the farmer’s daughter

Miss Turner does not think he is guilty, and has entrusted lawyer Lestrade to handle the case and defend McCarthy's son. - You should still remember this person Lestrade, he is just like him.

The person related to the 'Study in Scarlet' case - however, Lestrai also found this case very difficult, so he turned to me for help. This is two and a half old men who can't even bother to eat breakfast.

, the reason why I rushed to this place at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour instead of enjoying the opportunity to relax at home."

I said, "It seems obvious. It seems that you won't get any benefits from taking over this case."

He smiled and replied: "It is the so-called obvious facts that make it easier for you to be deceived. Maybe we can find some obvious facts that Leicester ignores! I think we need to use what Leicester can't do.

Methods to overturn or confirm his theory, even he may not understand our approach at all. You know me, you will not disagree with what I said! We can give an example casually,

I can clearly tell that the window in your bedroom is open on the right side, but I think Mr. Lestri might have a hard time discovering even such an obvious fact."

"Then how do you know..."

"Dear friend, I know your situation very well. I know your neat habits that are unique to soldiers. You shave every morning. In this season, you will use the light outside to shave your beard.

Shaving. Since the light on the left side is always not as good as the right side, when you shave the left side of your face, the further down you go, the less clean it will be. When you shave under the chin, it will be even less clean. And if you shave both sides

If the light is the same, according to the habits of a tidy person like you, you will definitely not shave your face like this. I use this as an example to illustrate my point of view on observation and reasoning. You also know that this is me

I believe this will help our ongoing investigation. Therefore, one or two less critical questions raised in the subpoena should also be considered."

What's wrong?

"He was not arrested at the scene, but was arrested after returning to Hatherley Farm. When the patrolman informed him that he had been arrested, he said that this was the punishment he deserved, and for this matter

It didn't surprise him at all. This easily dispelled even the slightest suspicion that the coroner's jury might have had."

I couldn't help shouting: "Isn't that what he confessed on his own initiative?" "That's not the case, because then someone came up with the opposite opinion and believed that he was innocent."

"This is a bit too suspicious, isn't it? Why did it take so long for someone to raise an objection?"

Holmes said: "On the contrary, this is the only glimmer of light I have seen in the darkness so far. No matter how stupid a person is, it is impossible to be so stupid that he has no idea that the situation that happened at that time is very detrimental to him.

!If he showed surprise or anger when he was arrested, I might regard his behavior as suspicious, because it is difficult to be natural if he shows surprise and anger under the circumstances. It can only be a cunning person.

It was a trick used by people who thought they were brilliant. And he was able to admit the situation at that time for no more than two reasons. First, he was innocent, and second, he might be a person with strong self-restraint. As for him,

To say that this was the punishment he deserved, a moment's thought would make you understand, was that it was human nature. He was standing next to his father's body, and it was obvious that on that very day he became a son of disobedience.

He dared to argue with his father, and even raised his hands as if to hit his father, as the little girl who testified said. From this passage, I think this shows that his condemnation and guilt are normal.

behavior, not the behavior of a sinful person.”

I shook my head and said, "But many people were hanged with much less evidence than at present!"

"That's true, but many of them died unjustly."

"How did the young man confess his crime?" "The crime he confessed is difficult to inspire those who support him. There are only one or two points that can give people some inspiration. Take a look at these things yourself, maybe you can find them here.

"

From the bundle of newspapers just now, he took out a newspaper from Herefordshire, turned over a page, and pointed out to me the large section of content that the poor young man had confessed. I calmly

Sit in a corner of the carriage and read attentively. The specific content is as follows:

The deceased's only son, Mr. James McCarthy, made the following statement in court at that time:

"Before the whole thing happened, I left home for three days and went to Bristol. I didn't come home until the morning of last Monday (the third). When I got home, my father had already gone out." The maid said

, he and coachman John Cobb rode to Ross. But not long after I got home, I heard the sound of his carriage entering the yard. I looked out from the house and saw him walking quickly after getting off the car.

After walking out of the yard, I didn’t know where he was going. Then, I took my gun and walked aimlessly towards Boscombe Lake, intending to go to the rabbit farm on the other side of the lake.

This is consistent with the testimony given by the gamekeeper William Claude, so, as he said, I saw William Claude on the road. But he mistakenly thought that I was following my father.

.Actually, I knew nothing about the fact that my father was in front of me. Just when I walked about 100 meters away from the lake, I suddenly heard the cry of "Kuy!" coming from in front of me. This cry was between our father and son.

A commonly used code. I walked forward quickly and found my father standing by the lake. But it seemed that he was surprised by my appearance and asked me in a rough voice what I was doing there. Then we started

We chatted for a while, but soon we started arguing and almost got violent because my father had a bad temper. Seeing that my father was too angry and could no longer control myself, I left him and turned around to return to Hatherley.

The farm. But as soon as I walked less than 150 meters, a frightened scream came from behind me, which scared me and ran back. When I ran back, I saw my father lying on the ground, dying.
To be continued...