Part 40: Update #2
Let's All Play Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - The Solicitous Solicitor (Update #2)
Notebook (New clues will be spoilered.)
1. Melvin Tuttle, a junior partner with the law firm Sloane, Swathmore And Cartwright, dropped dead of a heart attack yesterday morning. Inspector Lestrade believes that he was poisoned and has spoken with every partner of the law firm. Sir Sidney Sloane claims that he never arrives there before noon, Henry Swathmore was in attendance at his appointment at Bell's Baths and Whitney Cartwright began an unscheduled and indefinite leave of absence two days beforehand. Lestrade also mentioned Harold Diggs, who was another lawyer at the firm, who believed he was far more qualified than Tuttle to become a junior partner. But he was passed over for promotion three months ago and subsequently resigned his position.
Lestrade gave us some notice to read this mornings newspaper and informed us that he currently has the contents of Tuttle's desk at Scotland Yard.
2. Holmes visit to Sloane, Swathmore And Cartwright was very unproductive as he encountered two very relaxed and disinterested constables.
3. Sir Jasper Meek informed us that Tuttle had died from heart and respitory failure, no diseases were present. He did test for many common poisons but didn't find any foreign substances, he added that some poisons are only detectable if you know what you are looking for.
4. Our visit to Inspector Lestrade was very productive as the contents of Melvin Tuttle's desk was a plethora of new leads. It contained the following items:
A folder containing information on textile contracts.
Two trust files with losts of properties, stocks and bonds. One for the British Museum and the other for Richard Mainhart.
A list of various properties that they owned at one time or another. Disraeli O'Brian's name is on top.
A key from Bell's Baths.
One gold locket which says "To V.M. with love, M.T.". J.W. Benson, Ltd is named on the box.
A bill for a room at the Knights Arms Hotel, the amount appears to be a monthly rate.
5. Harold Diggs took Melvin Tuttle's promotion as a personal insult, he believed that his own work was superior and that Tuttle had only worked there for two years. He resigned as he felt that his prospects were limited at the company. He also revealed that his dislike of Tuttle was personal as well as professional. Diggs seems to hold Miss Alice Spring in high regards but was jealous of her interest in Tuttle, he also revealed that she had once rejected his advances.
6. We called on Dr Jerrold Mason at the wrong time, he left a note on the door saying that he is currently out and playing a game of cricket.
7. Unfortunately, the Irregulars visit to the Raven & Rat Inn bore no fruit.
8. Disraeli O'Brian last saw Melvin Tuttle around two months ago. Tuttle used to visit O'Brian on a daily basis on what appeared to be his lunch hour as he had an interest in property transaction files. Mainly the list of names of the owners of a given property lot and the dates that the lot was transferred to a new owner, along with the sale prices. O'Brian doesn't know the reason why Tuttle was interested in these files and he didn't ask him.
9. Filbert Raike seemed very warm until we brought up the murder of Melvin Tuttle. He confirmed that Henry Swathmore is a member of the club and claims that he doesn't pry into his customers private affairs. He also confirmed that Tuttle is also a member of the club before promptly ejecting Holmes from his office.
Not all was lost though as one of the clubs employee's, Jack Jenson, was very happy to talk about the private affairs happening within the club. He informed us that Swathmore met with Cedric Livingstone yesterday morning at the club, he also revealed that Livingstone owns the place. Livingstone used to be first mate on the "Glenda" and Jenson was shipmates with him at the time trading with China. The captain of the ship met an unfortunate end in 1858 and Livingstone took over his duties and managed to get the ship home safely. The owners of the ship were so grateful they gave him a big reward as well as captaincy, he quit the sea life very quickly afterwards. Jenson also informed us that Raike had cleared out Tuttle's locker yesterday and had brought the contents to his office, Swathmore and Livingstone were waiting there so they could look through them. Swathmore and Livingstone are "as thick as thieves", whatever they were looking for they didn't find as Swathmore was in a divver afterwards.
Raike and Jenson are in the directory but we are unable to visit either of them directly:
10. Henry Swathmore told us that Melvin Tuttle was promoted within the firm because he could do the job and it was Whitney Cartwright who recommended him. Harold Diggs proved to be unsatisfactory. Swathmore told us that he saw Tuttle last when they had worked together the evening before his death, they were completing some important contracts. Sir Sidney Sloane asked Swathmore to assist Tuttle after Cartwright had left the office. Swathmore claims not to know the reasons behind Cartwright's departure.
11. Murray had a lot of evidence to work with including toffee, tea, tobacco and a pipe. The tea contained traces of a poison, but a higher concentration was found on the lip of the cup that Melvin Tuttle was drinking from. Traces of poison were also found on the tip of the stem of the pipe. The poison was produced from Chinaberry, a paralysing nerve poison where even a trace of it can stop the heart permanently, it also smells faintly of lilac. Murray has written a book that might have more information about it, there is a copy in the London Library. It's very unlikely that it could be found in London.
12. Melvin Tuttle used to be very popular with the ladies according to the owner of the Knights Arms Hotel. He was so popular that he used to have his own chamber there were he brought many different women. He was last seen two or three weeks ago and had recently given up his room.
13. The Irregulars bore some fruit with their visit to J.W. Benson's. Melvin Tuttle used to buy cheap lockets for each of his female companions. But last week, he bought a solid gold locket with diamonds.
Locations
J.W. Benson, Ltd - J.W. Benson is a modest jewellery shoppe located at the corner of Dean and Shaftsbury. John Benson is the proprietor.
British Museum - Founded in 1773 by Sir Hans Sloan, this great national museum and library is located on Montague-street. My first chambers were located on the same street, just around the corner.
Cartwright, Whitney - Whitney Cartwright is a principal in the prestigious London law firm of Sloane, Swathmore and Cartwright. Cartwright's expertise is in contract law. He is married to the former Fay Burns.
Central Carriage Stables - Central Carriage Stables is located at 5 Grey's-road, WC. It is here that all of London's cabs are stabled and dispatched. This is a good place to find information about people's movements about the city.
Criterion Club - Located in Regent Circus, Picadilly, the Criterion is a splendid restaurant, bar and theatre. They also provide sumptuous accommodations for private paying members.
Ellis, Henry (London Times) - Baker Street Regular.
Featherstone, Banks - Featherstone is the publisher of his father's definitive works on baldness.
Hall, Edward (Old Bailey) - Baker Street Regular.
Hamilton, George - George Hamilton is an actor of minimal talent whom Watson and I caught in a dreadful musical revinue at the Elephant and Castle.
Heathcliffe, August - August Heathcliff is a successful textiles magnate and the president of Heathcliff and Son, Ltd., based in Manchester. Curiously, Mr. Heathcliff has six daughters, but no sons.
Hogg, Quentin (Police Gazette) - Baker Street Regular.
Livingstone, Cedric - Mr. Livingstone is a former sailor and a prominent builder who has been responsible for much renovation on the West side. I understand he gives generously to the Seaman's Fund. There has been some speculation about the origins of his great wealth. And as always, I suspect a tie to Moriarty.
London Library - Baker Street Regular.
Mainhart, Richard - Nothing on file.
Metcalf, Aubrey - Aubrey Metcalf is a young poet who is frequently invited to read his works at Buckingham Palace.
Monroe, Virginia - Nothing on file.
Pharmaceutical Society - The Pharmaceutical Society can always be relied upon to provide accurate information on any and all legal and illegal substances found here in London.
Pike, Langdale (Society Club) - Baker Street Regular.
Porter, Margaret - Nothing on file.
Raven & Rat Inn (Shinwell, Porky) - Baker Street Regular.
Sloane, Sir Sidney - Sir Sidney Sloane is a barrister and a principal in the firm of Sloane, Swathmore and Cartwright. He formed the company in the mid-fifties and brought Swathmore and Cartwright in some twenty years ago. It is Sir Sidney's keen mind and social grace that has built one of the most prestigious law firms in London.
Somerset House - Baker Street Regular.
Spring, Alice - Nothing on file.
Tuttle, Melvin (Investigation of his residence) - Nothing on file.
Walker, Brenda - Nothing on file.
Unvisitable locations of note.
Benson, John - Mr. Benson is the proprietor of a modest jewellery shoppe in the northwest of London.
Heathcliff & Son, Ltd - A textiles firm based in Manchester.
Time to vote!
You can choose up to, and including, five more locations for the detectives to visit. You're also free to send the Irregulars to one location.
It's too early to call for an end to the case. We have visited three out of eight key locations.
Voting will end Wednesday 29th July at 2200 GMT.