From Watson’s Tin Box – The Priory School | The Fourth Garrideb

“Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, MD, Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid.”

– The Problem of Thor Bridge (THOR)

“We have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small stage at Baker Street, but I cannot recollect anything more sudden and startling than the first appearance of Dr Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. His card, which seemed too small to carry the weight of his academic distinctions, preceded him by a few seconds, and then he entered himself – so large, so pompous, and so dignified that he was the very embodiment of self-possession and solidity.: ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion that meets in Columbia, Maryland, shares a few select items from their tin evidence box for The Adventure of the Priory School with us here at The Fourth Garrideb. These evidence boxes were originally created by the late Paul Churchill, BSI, one of the founders of Watson’s Tin Box and contains both genuine artifacts and genuine faux reproductions that he (and others) created. These items create a great deal of discussion at their monthly meetings and we hope it will do the same here. Enjoy!

“Return ticket from Mackleton, in the North of England,’ said Holmes, drawing it from the watch-pocket. ‘It is not twelve o’clock yet. He has certainly been an early starter.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“Our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits. The light had come back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks as he set himself with great vigour and lucidity to explain the situation.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“He now drew out his note-book and jotted down one or two memoranda.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“Look at this map. This dark square is the Priory School. I’ll put a pin in it. Now, this line is the main road. You see that it runs east and west past the school, and you see also there is no side road for a mile either way. If these two folk passed away by road it was this road.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“There was an agitated knock at the door, and an instant afterwards Dr Huxtable was in the room. In his hand he held a blue cricket-cap, with a white chevron on the peak” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“A bicycle certainly, but not the bicycle,’ said he. ‘I am familiar with forty-two different impressions left by tyres. This, as you perceive, is a Dunlop, with a patch upon the outer cover. Heidegger’s tyres were Palmers, leaving longitudinal stripes. Aveling, the mathematical master, was sure upon the point. Therefore it is not Heidegger’s track.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“I brought the peasant across, and Holmes dispatched the frightened man with a note to Dr Huxtable.”~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“There were two rough-haired, unkempt horses in the tumble-down stable. Holmes raised the hind leg of one of them and laughed loud.
‘Old shoes, but newly shod – old shoes, but new nails.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

“I fancy that I see your Grace’s cheque-book upon the table,’ said he, ‘I should be glad if you would make me out a cheque for six thousand pounds. It would be as well, perhaps, for you to cross it. The.Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch, are my agents.” ~ WTB PRIO Evidence Box

Thanks to the 42nd Garrideb, Denny Dobry, for the scans in this post. Thanks also to Debbie Clark, the 58th Garrideb, the current keeper of the evidence boxes.

Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion in Columbia, MD, is one of the most active Sherlockian groups in the Middle Atlantic region, Generally meeting on the last Monday of each month, the meetings feature canonical toasts, good conversations and dining, as well as a discussion of the month’s featured story and an educational presentation. For more information about Watson’s Tin Box, please visit their website HERE

A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars