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arrested； and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned at the
inquest on Tuesday； he was on Wednesday brought before the magistrates
at Ross； who have referred the case to the next Assizes。 Those are the
main facts of the case as they came out before the coroner and the
police…court。〃
〃I could hardly imagine a more damning case；〃 I remarked。 〃If ever
circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so here。〃
〃Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing；〃 answered Holmes
thoughtfully。 〃It may seem to point very straight to one thing； but if
you shift your own point of view a little； you may find it pointing in
an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different。 It
must be confessed； however； that the case looks exceedingly grave
against the young man； and it is very possible that he is indeed the
culprit。 There are several people in the neighbourhood； however； and
among them Miss Turner； the daughter of the neighbouring land…owner；
who believe in his innocence； and who have retained Lestrade； whom you
may recollect in connection with 'A Study in Scarlet'； to work out the
case in his interest。 Lestrade； being rather puzzled； has referred the
case to me； and hence it is that two middleaged gentlemen are flying
westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly digesting their
breakfasts at home。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 said I； 〃that the facts are so obvious that you
will find little credit to be gained out of this case。〃
〃There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact；〃 he answered；
laughing。 〃Besides； we may chance to hit upon some other obvious facts
which may have been by no means obvious to Mr。 Lestrade。 You know me
too well to think that I am boasting when I say that I shall either
confirm or destroy his theory by means which he is quite incapable
of employing； or even of understanding。 To take the first example to
hand； I very clearly perceive that in your bedroom the window is
upon the right…hand side； and yet I question whether Mr。 Lestrade
would have noted even so self…evident a thing as that。〃
〃How on earth…〃
〃My dear fellow； I know you well。 I know the military neatness which
characterizes you。 You shave every morning； and in this season you
shave by the sunlight； but since your shaving is less and less
complete as we get farther back on the left side； until it becomes
positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the jaw； it is surely
very clear that that is less illuminated than the other。 I could not
imagine a man of your habits looking at himself in an equal light
and being satisfied with such a result。 I only quote this as a trivial
example of observation and inference。 Therein lies my metier； and it
is just possible that it may be of some service in the investigation
which lies before us。 There are one or two minor points which were
brought out in the inquest； and which are worth considering。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃It appears that his arrest did not take place at once； but after
the return to Hatherley Farm。 On the inspector of constabulary
informing him that he was a prisoner； he remarked that he was not
surprised to hear it； and that it was no more than his deserts。 His
observation of his had the natural effect of removing any traces of
doubt which might have remained in the minds of the coroner's jury。〃
〃It was a confession；〃 I ejaculated。
〃No； for it was followed by a protestation of innocence。〃
〃Coming on the top of such a damning series of events； it was at
least a most suspicious remark。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Holmes； 〃it is the brightest rift which I
can at present see in the clouds。 However innocent he might be； he
could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the
circumstances were very black against him。 Had he appeared surprised
at his own arrest or feigned indignation at it； I should have looked
upon it as highly suspicious； because such surprise or anger would not
be natural under the circumstances； and yet might appear to be the
best policy to a scheming man。 His frank acceptance of the situation
marks him as either an innocent man； or else as a man of
considerable self…restraint and firmness。 As to his remark about his
deserts； it was also not unnatural if you consider that he stood
beside the dead body of his father； and that there is no doubt that he
had that very day so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words
with him； and even； according to the little girl whose evidence is
so important； to raise his hand as if to strike him。 The self…reproach
and contrition which are displayed in his remark appear to me to be
the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a guilty one。〃
I shook my head。 〃Many men have been hanged on far slighter
evidence；〃 I remarked。
〃So they have。 And many men have been wrongfully hanged。〃
〃What is the young man's own account of the matter？〃
〃It is； I am afraid； not very encouraging to his supporters；
though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive。 You
will find it here； and may read it for yourself。〃
He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire
paper； and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph
in which the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what
had occurred。 I settled myself down in the corner of the carriage
and read it very carefully。 It ran in this way：
Mr。 James McCarthy； the only son of the deceased； was then called
and gave evidence as follows： 〃I had been away from home for three
days at Bristol； and had only just returned upon the morning of last
Monday； the 3rd。 My father was absent from home at the time of my
arrival； and I was informed by the maid that he had driven over to
Ross with John Cobb； the groom。 Shortly after my return I heard the
wheels of his trap in the yard； and； looking out of my window； I saw
him get out and walk rapidly out of the yard； though I was not aware
in which direction he was going。 I then took my gun and strolled out
in the direction of the Boscombe Pool； with the intention of
visiting the rabbit…warren which is upon the other side。 On my way I
saw William Crowder； the game…keeper； as he had stated in his
evidence； but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my
father。 I had no idea that he was in front of me。 When about a hundred
yards from the pool I heard a cry of 'Cooee！' which was a usual signal
between my father and myself。 I then hurried forward； and found him
standing by the pool。 He appeared to be much surprised at seeing me
and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there。 A conversation
ensued which led to high words and almost to blows； for my father
was a man of a very violent temper。 Seeing that his passion was
becoming ungovernable； I left him and returned towards Hatherley Farm。
I had not gone more than 150 yards； however； when I heard a hideous
outcry behind me； which caused me to run back again。 I found my father
expiring upon the ground； with his head terribly injured。 I dropped my
gun and held him in my arms； but he almost instantly expired。