The Trial of Sherlock Holmes

By Rolando José Olivo

Since Sherlock Holmes returned, clarifying that he didn ́t die while fighting professor James Moriarty, and before the subsequent discovery of the body of his former archenemy, Scotland Yard and the French police, whose director is outraged because the detective has meddled in delicate affairs of that nation, have been investigating the famous detective.

In the first days of January 1898, the High Court of Justice unusually returned to session, without having finished the judicial holidays, while Sherlock Holmes received a house arrest order and the file with three charges against him. In this regard, the brilliant detective is accused of: a) murdering James Moriarty, b) allowing the escape of Dr. Leon Sterndale, murderer of Mortimer Tregennis, and c) contributing to the escape of Captain Jack Croker, murderer of Sir Eustace Brackenstall.

This is the trial of the century! British and continental European newspapers give extensive coverage to this legal process and many sympathizers of Sherlock Holmes flock to the courthouse.

The prosecution, led by the top bosses of Scotland Yard and the French police, has assigned Stanley Hopkins to act as prosecutor. While Sherlock Holmes has the support of the two best lawyers in London, hired by his brother Mycroft, and John McFarlane.

The trial is complicated and the situation does not look flattering for Sherlock Holmes. The accusers have brought the convicted Sebastian Moran, a witness of the alleged murder of James Moriarty, and are sure that the detective will also be convicted on the last two charges. In addition to this, Dr. Watson is also accused of complicity in those two charges, obstruction of justice and withholding information that the authorities need. Finally, Sherlock Holmes surprises by resorting to the support of unexpected allies, carrying out unprecedented actions, bringing witnesses to cry for him and turning the courtroom into a circus (there was even a tomato attack against an enemy of the detective), while Dr. Watson, on the verge of a nervous and emotional breakdown, hopes that they will never live that horrible nightmare again...

Content:

First Part, Sherlock Holmes Is Accused of Three Serious Crimes

Second Part, The Trial of the Century

Third Part, The Conclusion of the Trial

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rolando José Olivo
• Release date: Jan 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215577400

Rolando José Olivo

[e-mail] Instagram: @rolandojolivo Systems Engineer with 3 postgraduate degrees: Master's Degree in Applied Economics, Diploma in General Management and Specialization in Management of Social Programs (Summa Cum Laude). Work experience in companies in the oil sector, occupying these positions: Planning and Logistics Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Advisor and Consultant. Consultant in the economic and financial area. Writer of books on economics, management, self-help, novels and Christianity, among others.

Book preview

The Trial of Sherlock Holmes

Copyright © Rolando José Olivo, 2023.

ISBN 979-821-55-7740-0.

Sixth Edition.

USA: Smashwords, Inc., 2023.

A Detective Story.

Note: First published in Spanish: El juicio a Sherlock Holmes (2023). USA: Kindle Publications.

Translated by Rolando José Olivo.

All images of the cover are in the public domain.

These are found on Pixabay.com, excepting the fight between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty, Sidney Paget, 1893, and the portrait of Sherlock Holmes, Sidney Paget, 1904.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Adventure_of_the_Final_Problem_01.jpg.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sherlock_Holmes_Portrait_Paget.jpg.

In the same way, these characters are in the public domain: Sherlock Holmes, John H. Watson or Dr. Watson, Mycroft Holmes, the explorer and detective Sigerson, Mrs. Hudson, Wiggins, John McFarlane, Ronald Adair, Willoughby Smith, Peter Carey, Violet Smith, Mr. Ronder, Mrs. Ronder, Theresa Wright, Mr. Ferguson, Mrs.. Ferguson, Violet Westbury, inspectors Lestrade, Patterson and Stanley Hopkins, Mr. Roundhay, Dr. Leon Sterndale, Mortimer Tregennis, Captain Jack Croker, Sir Eustace Brackenstall, Mary Fraser or Lady Brackenstall, Godfrey Norton, Irene Adler or Irene Norton or Mrs. Norton, James Moriarty, his brother, known as the Colonel James Moriarty, Sebastian Moran and Jonas Oldacre, among others.

INDEX

First Part, Sherlock Holmes Is Accused of Three Serious Crimes

Second Part, The Trial of the Century

Third Part, The Conclusion of the Trial

First Part, Sherlock Holmes Is Accused of Three Serious Crimes

The events occurred during the first days of the year 1898. It seemed unusual to me that the magistrates of the High Court of Justice, one of the most respected institutions in Great Britain, returned to work before the end of the judicial holidays. The same happened in other courts, throughout England and the continent. There were a lot of rumors that included the possibility of a European war, a diplomatic conflict, uprisings in the colonies and the need to expedite several cases because the attacks against the organization continued, and new trials were expected, initiated by the work of Scotland Yard and the French police.

However, the situation wasn´t perceived well. It was as if a wicked fog of uncertainty and sadness had displaced the merry Victorian Christmas. In addition, I was afraid that this environment was propitious to go against my detective friend, who was envied by almost all the officers of Scotland Yard and more than half of the agents of the secret service office. He was also hated by Rudolf Shrubth and Charlles De Goldies, the top bosses of Scotland Yard and the French police, who surprisingly met several times in December, supposedly to coordinate further actions against the organization.

Inside me, I feared for the safety of Sherlock Holmes, since as I have expressed on other occasions, he has crossed the red line that criminals disrespect and some of his actions are questionable. Unfortunately, my concerns were not unfounded and Sherlock Holmes was in real danger: this time it wasn´t a matter of facing powerful criminals, ready to assassinate him, the problem was that the security forces and the judiciary power had their eyes focused on my friend, with the endorsement of the sinister officials, Rudolf Shrubth and Charlles De Goldies, willing to end the reputation and freedom of Sherlock Holmes.

At least the detective was aware of the difficult situation, and knew many details that he could not tell me, at that time, especially to protect my safety, since as assistant and biographer of Sherlock Holmes, my position was very delicate: they could accuse me of being an accomplice or demand to hand over some of the memoirs, which I have written with such precision and haven´t yet published. In addition to this, it would be uncomfortable for me to be questioned in a police station or in a court of law, since telling the truth, in some sensitive matters, could compromise my friend, and staying silent or lying would not be viable options. Although I would prefer to inhibit myself, in some way, even if they take away my medical license and sentence me to prison, for several years, in order to avoid the disgrace of Sherlock Holmes.

Despite my memory problems and other weird neurological symptoms, I still remember that day, January 5th. I will never forget that time. Sherlock Holmes and I finished breakfast. In a few moments, an unwelcome guest appeared, who ran up the stairs, with the strength of a boy not quite thirty, without waiting for Mrs. Hudson to introduce him. Before he knocked, in a strong and desperate way, my friend went and opened the door. It was the dirty Wiggins, the head of Sherlock Holmes’ informal gang of informers. I have to say that despite his unpleasant appearance and unbearable bad smell, which gave him away for bathing very little and sleeping in the streets and garbage cans, and having received verbal abuse from the detective, he was always faithful and appreciated the favors and payments received.

Sherlock Holmes invited him to breakfast, calling Mrs. Hudson, who didn´t hide her pouting face,