Thursday, February 19, 2015

Chase Is On the Case

"The Harvey Chase Documents."
By Arthur Bartlett Maurice (1873-1946).
The Smart Set (November 1905), pages 103-115.
Short story.
Online HERE.
"I now hold in my hands all the threads of one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of London crime."
The first, and as far as we know, the only recorded Harvey Chase adventure—understandable, really, because while author Maurice shoots for that Sherlock Holmes vibe, he misses. Excerpts:
. . . "It is just a little everyday murder—at least, that is what the London police state . . ."
. . . "It suggests many things. Not that the handwriting is anything out of the ordinary, although it offers clues in the way of nationality and rank. But surely the places and the corresponding dates must convince you that this is not the itinerary of an ordinary person." . . .
". . . in this case there are complications with which the most complete chain of circumstantial evidence is unable to cope."
. . . The man whom he designated last was seated at his right, and had been watching us closely out of cruel, blinking, bloodshot eyes. His lips were curled into a leer. His was a countenance seamed with the lines of an evil and dissipated life.  . . .
. . . "These are only two of seven distinct clues which the examination of the room furnished me."  . . .

Category: Detective fiction (sort of)

No comments:

Post a Comment