Can you solve a mystery before Sherlock Holmes? - Alex Rosenthal

Summary

In this Sherlock Holmes mystery, Mr. Jabez Wilson, a pawnbroker with striking red hair, is drawn into the peculiar 'Red-Headed League.' After two months of transcribing encyclopedias for pay, the league suddenly disbands, leading Wilson to seek Holmes' help. Holmes discovers that Wilson's assistant, Vincent Spaulding, was actually the notorious thief John Clay. Using the League as a ruse to distract Wilson, Clay and his accomplice dug a tunnel to rob a nearby bank. Holmes foils the heist, solving the case with his sharp deductions.

Takeaways

• 🕵️ Sherlock Holmes is approached by Mr. Jabez Wilson, a pawnbroker with fiery red hair, regarding a peculiar case.
• 📰 Wilson was intrigued by a newspaper ad for the 'Red-Headed League,' which offered a well-paying position to red-headed men.
• 💼 His assistant, Vincent Spaulding, convinced him to apply for the job, and Wilson was selected after a brief interview by Duncan Ross.
• 📝 Wilson's job was to transcribe the encyclopedia for four hours a day in exchange for a generous wage.
• ❌ After two months, Wilson arrived at the office only to find the League had been disbanded, and Ross had vanished.
• 🔍 Sherlock Holmes takes on the case and soon suspects a larger scheme, involving the bank near Wilson’s pawnshop.
• 🏦 Holmes discovers that the true goal of the culprits was to tunnel from the pawnshop to the bank's vault to steal French gold.
• 🕳️ Spaulding, who was actually the criminal John Clay, used Wilson's daily absence to dig the tunnel.
• 👮 Holmes, along with a police officer and a banker, foils the robbery by catching Clay and his accomplice in the act.
• 💡 Wilson, despite losing the Red-Headed League position, gains knowledge from the encyclopedias, though his job was part of a larger deception.

Q & A

Who was the elderly gentleman with fiery red hair that Sherlock Holmes was speaking with?

The elderly gentleman was Mr. Jabez Wilson, a pawnbroker.

What was the League of Red-Headed Men, and why did Mr. Wilson join it?

The League of Red-Headed Men was a mysterious organization that offered a significant cash incentive to red-headed men. Mr. Wilson joined after being convinced by his assistant, Vincent Spaulding, to apply due to the attractive stipend.

What task was Mr. Wilson assigned to do for the League, and how much was he paid?

Mr. Wilson was tasked with transcribing the encyclopedia for four hours a day and was paid handsomely, earning more than his day job.

What unexpected event caused Mr. Wilson to seek Sherlock Holmes’ help?

After working for the League for two months, Mr. Wilson arrived one day to find a sign saying the League had been disbanded, and his interviewer, Duncan Ross, had disappeared.

Who was Vincent Spaulding, and what role did he play in the unfolding events?

Vincent Spaulding was Mr. Wilson's assistant, but Sherlock Holmes deduced he was actually the notorious thief John Clay. Spaulding was using his employment with Wilson as a cover to dig a tunnel from the pawnshop to the neighboring bank vault.

How did Sherlock Holmes deduce that Vincent Spaulding was John Clay?

Sherlock noticed Spaulding's worn and dusty knees, which indicated he had been digging. This led Holmes to recognize him as the notorious thief John Clay.

What was the purpose of creating the Red-Headed League?

The Red-Headed League was a ruse designed by Spaulding (John Clay) and his accomplice to keep Mr. Wilson out of the pawnshop for long periods, allowing them to dig a tunnel to the nearby bank vault without being detected.

What crime did Sherlock Holmes and his companions prevent, and how?

They prevented the theft of a large quantity of French gold from a bank's underground vault. Sherlock deduced the plan and waited in the vault to apprehend the thieves when they emerged from their tunnel.

Why did Sherlock Holmes ask for walking directions to the Strand from Vincent Spaulding?

Sherlock used the interaction to observe Spaulding up close, particularly his appearance, including the condition of his trousers, which gave away clues to his involvement in digging the tunnel.

How did Sherlock Holmes confirm that the target was the bank vault next to the pawnshop?

Sherlock tested the pavement near the pawnshop and found it hollow, indicating a tunnel had been dug. He then confirmed his suspicion by circling the block and realizing the vault was the target.