Sherlock Holmes: The Six Napoleons (Hobbs & Shelley)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Sherlock Holmes: The Six Napoleons (Hobbs & Shelley)"

Introduction

In this captivating episode of Choice Classic Radio Detectives, titled "Sherlock Holmes: The Six Napoleons (Hobbs & Shelley)", listeners are transported to the iconic 221B Baker Street, where the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, portrayed by Carlton Hobbs, and his steadfast companion Dr. John Watson, voiced by Norman Shelley, delve into a perplexing case involving the vandalism of Napoleon busts. Originally based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story, this adaptation masterfully blends classic detective work with engaging storytelling.

Initial Crimes: Vandalism of Napoleon Busts

The episode commences with Inspector Lestrade from Scotland Yard seeking Holmes's expertise on a series of unusual burglaries involving the deliberate smashing of plaster Napoleon busts. The first incident occurred at Morse Hudson's shop on Kennington Road, where a plaster bust of Napoleon was found shattered on the counter. Lestrade describes the scene:

"There's a doctor named Barnicot... he found his house had been burgled in the night. But only one thing had been taken. The plaster cast. Yes, it had been carried outside and smashed against the garden wall."
— Lestrade [04:15]

A second similar burglary took place at Dr. Barnicot's residence, where another identical bust was destroyed. Holmes quickly discerns that the perpetrator is not driven by a general hatred of Napoleon, given the specificity of the targeted molds:

"It's too much to suppose that any promiscuous iconoclast should begin by selecting three specimens of the same bust."
— Holmes [12:30]

Escalation to Murder

The plot thickens when a new development turns the case from a series of vandalisms into a matter of murder. Mr. Horace Harker, a journalist and collector of Napoleon memorabilia, becomes the latest victim. Harker recounts his harrowing experience:

"I grabbed the poker and went downstairs... I found the window wide open and the bust was gone... then I nearly fell over. A dead man."
— Mr. Harker [22:50]

His murder is intricately linked to the ongoing destruction of Napoleon busts, prompting Holmes and Watson to intensify their investigation.

Investigation and Clues

Holmes and Watson begin to trace the provenance of the stolen busts, uncovering that three were sold by Harding Brothers to different individuals, including Mr. Harker. Their inquiry leads them to identify Beppo, an Italian criminal with a violent past, as a key suspect. Inspector Lestrade assists by providing access to sales records and a photograph of Beppo.

"What you doing? Examining the fragments of the bust."
— Holmes [45:20]

Through meticulous examination, Holmes deduces that Beppo had hidden a valuable pearl within one of the busts during its creation. After being imprisoned, Beppo sought to retrieve the pearl by tracking down and destroying each bust, leading to the series of burglaries and ultimately, murder when his plans were thwarted.

Holmes' Deduction and Conclusion

Holmes articulates his reasoning, connecting the seemingly disparate incidents into a cohesive narrative:

"He inserted the pearl and covered up the faces. By the time he emerged from prison a year later... he had to track them down one by one and smash them open to find it."
— Holmes [58:10]

In a climactic sequence, Holmes and Lestrade apprehend Beppo as he attempts to steal the final, untouched bust. Through strategic planning and quick thinking, they successfully thwart his scheme, ensuring the pearl's safety.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Holmes reflecting on the ingenuity of the criminal's methods and Lestrade acknowledging the brilliance of Holmes's deductive skills:

"I don't know that I ever knew a more workmanlike one than that."
— Lestrade [1:05:30]

Holmes' ability to unravel complex puzzles is once again on display, reaffirming his status as the premier detective of his time. The case of "The Six Napoleons" not only showcases thrilling investigative work but also highlights themes of obsession and the lengths to which an individual will go to reclaim what was lost.

Final Thoughts

Choice Classic Radio Detectives delivers a richly detailed and engaging adaptation of one of Sherlock Holmes's classic adventures. Through stellar voice acting and faithful adherence to Conan Doyle's narrative, this episode provides both longtime fans and newcomers with an enthralling listening experience. Whether you're revisiting the Golden Age of Radio or discovering it for the first time, "Sherlock Holmes: The Six Napoleons (Hobbs & Shelley)" is a testament to the enduring legacy of Sherlock Holmes.

Transcript

[Podbean]

Your message amplified. Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with Podbean. Podbean. Podbean. Podbean. Podbean the AI powered all in one podcast platform. Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts. Launch your podcast on podbean today. My school uses Podbean. My church too. I love it. I really do. Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for [e-mail] capital. My dear Watson, let us return to our humble abode. 221B Baker street, please. Shabby. From London we present the Six Napoleons a play for radio by Michael Hardwick. Based on the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Six Napoleons it was no unusual thing for Mr. Lestrade of Scotland Yard to look in of an evening at 221B Baker Street. Holmes was always ready to listen with attention to the details of any case from which the inspector was engaged without active interference. Holmes was able occasionally to give some hint or suggestion drawn from his own vast knowledge and experience. On this particular evening Lestrade had spoken of the weather in the newspapers. Then he had fallen silent, puffing thoughtfully at his cigar. Holmes looked keenly at him. Anything remarkable on hand this tree? No, Mr. Holmes, nothing very particular. Then tell me all about it. Well, Mr. Holmes, there's no use denying there is something on my mind. But I reckon he comes more in Dr. Watson's line than ours. What is it? Disease? Madness more like. Madness, yes, and a queer sort of madness too. You wouldn't think there was anyone living nowadays with such a hatred of Napoleon that he'd break any statue of visit upon breakeys statues of Napoleon. Well, that's no business of mine. I say so. But then when a chap commits burglary in order to get of them. Burglary? But this is more interesting. Let me hear the details. Well, the first case was four days ago. Shop belonging to a man named Morse Hudson in the Kennington Road. Sells pictures, statues and so on. Yes, the assistant stepped into the back of the shop for a few minutes, heard a crash, went hurrying back again and found a plaster busted Napoleon lying smashed to bits on the counter. He ran into the street and one or two people told him they'd seen a fellow running away. No hopes of identifying him. Hooliganism perhaps? Well, that's what the constable on duty thought, Doctor. I mean the bus wasn't Worth more than a few shillings. However, the second case, Nava, was more serious and more singular. And it occurred only last night. Where? Kennington Road again. A few hundred yards from Morse Hudson's shop. There's a doctor named Barnicot, big practice. He is also an enthusiastic admirer of Napoleon. Got a house full of books, pictures and relics of the French emperor. Well, not long ago he bought two of Morse Hudson's plaster casts of old Boney. He put one in the hall of his Kennington place and the other on the surgery mantelpiece in Lower Brixton. When he came down this morning he found his house had been burgled in the night. But only one thing had been taken. The plaster cast. Yes. It had been carried outside and smashed against the garden wall. This is certainly very novel. Go on, Lestrade. Yes, yes, I thought it would please you. And guess what he found when he got to his surgery at noon. An entry had been forced in the night and the second plaster cast had been smashed to atoms where it stood. Exactly. So There you are, Mr. Holmes. You've got all the facts. They're singular, not to say grotesque. Tell me, were the two busts that were smashed in Dr. Barnicot's rooms exact duplicates of the one that was destroyed in Morse Hudson shop? They were taken from the same mould. Then such a fact must tell against the theory that the man who breaks them is influenced by any general hatred of Napoleon. Why, Holmes? Oh, consider how many hundreds of statues of the Emperor must exist in London. It's too much to suppose that any promiscuous iconoclast should begin by selecting three specimens of the same bust. Well, I thought that too, Ms. Holmes. On the other hand, Morse Hudson happens to be the purveyor of busts in that part of London and these three were the only ones which had been in his shop for years. So you think a local fanatic would begin with that? Exactly. Well, don't you, Doctor? I mean, as a medical man. Well, there are no limits to the possibilities of monomania. For example, a man who had read deeply about Napoleon or who had inherited some legacy of hatred from the Napoleonic wars, might conceivably form some ide fix and be capable of any fantastic outrage because of it. Highly scientific, my dear Watson, but it won't do. Why, no amount of ide fixe would enable your interesting monomaniac to find out where these busts were situated. Well, that's true. And how do you explain it? I don't attempt to do, sir. I would Only observe, Lestrade, that there's a certain method in a gentleman's eccentric proceeding. Method? For example, in Dr. Barnicot's hall where a sound might arouse the family the bust was taken outside before being broken but in his surgery where there was no danger of disturbing anyone it was smashed where it stood. That isn't much to go on. I agree. I'll be much obliged therefore if you let me hear of any fresh development. Good morning, Watson. Good morning. This affair of Lestrades appears to be developing rapidly. Why, what's happened? This Telegram come instantly. 131 Pitt Street, Kensington. Lestrade, I fancy our image breaker has begun operations in another part of London. Now be as quick as you can Watson. There's coffee on the table and I have a cab at the door. Oh very well. Holmes. I'm glad you could come Mr. Holmes. I never thought this affair would take such a grave turn. Why, what has it turned to then Inspector? Murder. Murder? Yes. Mr. Sherlock Holmes. May I introduce the owner of the house, Mr. Horace Harker of the Central Press Syndicate. How do you do Mr. Harker? How do you do? You know it's an extraordinary thing that all my life I've been collecting other people's news and now that a real piece of news has come my own way, I'm so confused and bothered I can't put two words together. I understand. If I'd come in here as a journalist I'd have interviewed myself and had two columns in every evening paper. Instead what am I doing? I'm giving valuable copy away by telling my story over and over to a string of people. And I can make no use of it myself. Just run through it once again for Mr. Holmes. Well it all seems to center around the bust of Napoleon. I bought her this very room about four months ago. I picked it up cheap from Harding Brothers, two doors from the High street station. Now you know that a journalist does a lot of his work at night. Of course. Well in the early hours of the morning I was writing in my den at the back of the house up top when I thought I heard sounds downstairs. I listened but there was nothing further so I thought they must have come from outside. Then suddenly there was the most horrible yell that will ring in my ears as long as I live. What did you do? I grabbed the poker and went downstairs. Yes, When I came into this room I found the window wide open and straightway I noticed that the bust was gone from the mantelpiece. Why any burgher should take such a thing passes My understanding, I mean it was only a worthless bit of plaster. Is that all you have to tell me, Mr. Harker? No. I ran to the front door and when I opened it I nearly fell over. A dead man. Great heaven on your doorstep. There he lay, poor chap, with a great gash in his throat, his mouth hanging open and his knees drawn up. Blood. The plates were swimming in it. Then I must have fainted. I knew there was a constable standing over me in the hall. The bodies of the mortuary, Mr. Holmes, you can see it for yourself. We made nothing of it up to now. The description? Tall, sunburnt, very powerful, not more than 30. Yes, shabbily dressed, but I don't think a laborer. It was a horn handled clasp knife laying in the blood, but whether it did the bead I can't say. Anything else? Nothing in his pocket save an apple, some string, a shilling, map of London. Oh, and the photograph. This one? Ugly looking fellow like a baboon. Good chap. Distinctly Simeon. But you haven't told me what became of the bust. It was found just before you got here, smashed to pieces in the garden of a house in Camden House Road. I'm going there now. Are you coming? Certainly, Mr. Harke. Are you coming with us? No, I'd better stay and try and make something of the story for the first editions of the evenings will be full of it already I don't doubt. Just my luck. Well, Mr. Holmes, do those shattered fragments of the bust tell you anything? No, Lestrade, we have still a long way to go. And yet. And yet the possession of this trifling bust is worth more than a human life. You mean the burglar stole it and then someone else killed him to get it home? So it seems. But when the murderer had achieved his object, he didn't break the bus there and then? No, he. He carried it several hundred yards to this place. He just killed a man. He wasn't going to hang about. Likely enough. But I wish to call your attention to the position of this house. Well it's just an empty house. He knew he wouldn't be disturbed here in the garden. Ah, but there's another empty house farther up the street which he must have passed before he got to this one. Why didn't he break it there? Well, because. Because. Oh, I give up then. Observe Lestrade, just over the wall a street lamp in this garden. He could see what he was doing. Well, Mr. Holmes, what are we going to do with that fact? To remember it? We may come upon something later. That will bear upon it. What's your next step, Lestrade? I reckon it's imperative we get that body identified. Find out who he was and who his associates were. Then we might learn what he was doing in Pitt street last night. That ought to lead us to who killed him. Don't you think so? No doubt. And yet it's not quite the way I should approach the case. Well, what would you do then? Oh, you mustn't let me influence you in any way. I suggest that you go on your line and I on mine. We can compare notes afterwards. Very well then. Oh, by the way, if you're going back to Pitt street, you might tell Mr. Harker from me that I've quite made up my mind that a dangerous homicidal lunatic was Napoleonic delusion illusions was in his house last night. You don't seriously believe that, Mr. Holmes. Don't I? Now, now, Holmes. Well, perhaps I don't. But I'm sure it'll interest the subscribers of the Central Press Syndicate. I'll keep this photograph for the time being if I may. Oh certainly. And I should be glad if you could make it convenient to meet us at Baker street at 6:00 this evening. Yes, yes, it's possible that I may have to ask your company and assistant on a small expedition tonight. I'll be there. Meanwhile, Watson, I think we shall find that we have a long and rather complex day's work before us, commencing I think at the shop where this bust was purchased. Hardings in the High Street. That's quite right, sir. I remember selling Mr. Harker the bus. We ordered three at the time from Gelburn Company of Stepney, but they're all gone now. Can you tell us to whom the others were sold, Mr. Harding? Oh, in a twinkling. Everything goes into this sales book. Yes. There. There you see. Plaster bust of Napoleon to Mr. Horace Harker. Oh yes, yes. Then here another to Mr. Josiah Brown. Brown Laburnum Vale, Chiswick. Chiswick. And the other to Mr. Sandiford, Lower Grove Road. Ready? Ready. System, gentlemen. System. Admirable. I wonder whether your system would run to identifying the man in this photograph. No, Mr. Holmes. I see. Do you employ a large South Natahy? A large ish of any Italian? Yes. There are two or three work people in cleaners. Could any of them gain access to this sales book? If you wished I'd take a peep into it. Oh yes, I dare say. Nothing confidential about it. Quite, sir. Well thank you Mr. Harding, you've been most helpful. No trouble Gentlemen, good day to you. Good day, Ms. Harding. Well, where are you now, Holmes? Let us make for Mr. Morse Hudson in the Kennington Road and see if he can throw any light upon the problem. Yes, sir. Smashed on my very counter, sir. What we pay rates and taxes for when any ruffian is free to walk in and break one. You have my sympathy, Mr. Hudson. I take it you are the gentleman who sold two busts through Dr. Barnicot? Also. I am, sir. And there's another disgrace for you. Smashed boat. Anarchists roaming our streets. Red Republicans. Oh, if I had my. May I ask where you obtained the statues? They came from Gelder and Company, Stepney. Well known house in the trade. And how many did you buy altogether? Three. And all smashed. Do you recognize the man in this photograph? No, I do not. Just a moment. Yes I do though. Well, it's Beppo. Italian fellow. Worked here for a time. Did a bit of carving, building planes, odd jobs and piecework, you know. Didn't turn up one day last week and I haven't heard of him since. But he left before the bust was smashed. Yes, he did. And now gentlemen, I have other things to attend to. I wish you good day. Good day, sir. Two molds, one from each side of the face is common. Then they are joined together so to make their complete burst. Perfectly her gilder. The work is done entirely in this very room. By what sort of people? As you see, men and women. No, I mean are they German or English or Scotch or reuse Italian. Many Italians in the morning room work. Was the man in this photograph ever one of them? Zar rascal. Yeah, Vol indeed. I know him very well. I tell you, her rules. The only time ever we have the police here was over this people hogs. What did he do? He has another Italian is in the back. It's a street. Did he kill him? He was a man's living. He did 12 more. How long ago was this? I have no doubt he's out now. When you refer to your ledger just now, you informed me that the date on which you sold three busts of Napoleon to Morse Hudson and three to Harding Brothers was June 3rd of last year. Yeah, yeah. Can you possibly recall for me the precise date on which Beppo was arrested? For the savage I remember in Wales, it was May 20th. May 20th, June 3rd. I'm much obliged to you Herr Gelder. You've helped us very much indeed. Podbean. Your message amplified. Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with Podbean. Podbean the AI powered all in one podcast platform. Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts. Use Podbean to record your podcast. Use PodBean AI to optimize your podcast. Use PodBean AI to turn your blog into a podcast. Use Podbean to distribute your podcast everywhere. Launch your podcast on podbean today. Piper Piper. Outright in Kensington Murder Bar. Madman Piper. Yeah, my boy. Oh, tiger. Piper. Piper. Well, at any rate, poor old Harker seems to have got his story into the paper. Yes, you listen to this. It is satisfactory to know that there can be no difference of opinion upon this case, since Mr. Lestrade, one of the most experienced members of the official force, and Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the well known consulting expert, have each come to the conclusion that the grotesque series of incidents which have ended in so tragic a fashion arise from lunacy rather than from deliberate crime. Is that what you'd hope he'd write? The post, Watson, is a most valuable institution if you only know how to use it. And now, if you can tear yourself away from that newspaper, we'll return to Baker Street. I fancy we shall barely get back before Lestrade is due. Well, Mr. Holmes, what luck, eh? What luck? Oh, my friend and I have had a very busy day, Lestrade. Indeed. We've seen both the retailers and the wholesalers. I'm now in a position to trace each of the past from its very beginning. The busts, eh? Well, well, you have Your own methods, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and it's not for me to say a word against them. Still, I recognize I'm a better day's work than you. Oh, really? Yes, I've identified the dead man. You don't say so. Yes, one Pietro Bonucci, from Naples. By all accounts one of the worst cutthroats in London. Connected with the Mafia. A secret society, you know. Really? Yes. Uses murder to get his ends. So you see how the affair begins to clear up. The mafia sets Pietro onto some other Italian who's broken the rules or something. Ah, the man in the photograph. I suppose that's it. Maybe they gave Pietro the photo to carry. So he know his man well, he dogs him, sees him into a house, waits for him to come out and attacks him. The other chap gets his knife out and it's Pietro who dies here. Mr. Holmes, I'll let. Excellent. The stranger. Excellent, eh, Watson? Oh, brilliant. Only what? I didn't quite follow your explanation of the destruction of the bus busts. You don't seem to be able to get them out of Your head. Pretty larceny, that's all. That was six months at the most. What we're onto is murder. Oh well, and the next stage then? Simple enough. I shall go down to the Italian Quarter, find the man in that photograph we've got and arrest him for murder. Will you come? I think not. I fancy we can attain our end in a simpler way. Oh? In fact the betting is exactly two to one that if you'll come with us tonight I shall be able to help you lay your man by the heel. To the Italian Quarter? No, Chiswick. What? Chiswick. You come with me to Chiswick tonight the spade and I'll promise to go to the Italian Quarter with you tomorrow. Well, I don't wish to leave before 11. I have some old newspapers to look through. In the meantime, Watson. Yes? I should be glad if you would order an express messenger. I have a letter to send and it's important that it should go at once. What place is this then? The Burnham Villa, the home of a Mr. Josiah Brown who purchased one of the six baths busts. Again six were purchased, four have been destroyed. As I told you. That leaves a 2 to 1 chance that we shall get something for our trouble this evening. You reckon someone will try and break in and get at the bust? They already have. Huh. There's a light moving in that room. That's who that is. Well done, Watson then. Come on, let's get in a nab him. Oh, too late, he's driving out. He smashed it already. Quickly, don't let him get away, Let him. All secure now let's get a look at him. Oh, Bunny. Here. It's hard. You keep on the photograph. All right, isn't it? Mr. Holmes? Here. What you doing? Examining the fragments of the bust. No, Lestrade, our case is not finished yet. This is one of those cases which are worth working out to the very end. It's a little late for explanations now, Lestrade. Will you come to my rooms at 6 o'clock tomorrow if you will? I think I shall be able to show you that even now you have not grasped the entire meaning of this business. It has features which make it absolutely original in the history of Paris. There you are, Inspector. Oh, well, thank you, Doctor. And my best respects. Not too strong on the gas? Well then, Mr. Holmes. Ah, that will be our other visitor, Mr. Sandifer. The reading I presume? The same, sir. May I introduce Dr. Watson and Mr. Lesray. How do you do, Mrs. Sandford. I see that you have a bag with you. Have you brought. Yes, yes. So I could know that. I own such a thing. I can't imagine. Quite simply, Mr. Harding of Harding Brothers told me he had sold you the last one from his stock and gave me your address. Ah, that's a bit. You say you wish to purchase my copy of the Bean's Butter Napoleon for ten pounds. That is so. Then I must tell you I gave only 15 shillings for it. Your scruples do you honor, Mr. Sandifer, but I've named my price and I intend to stick to it. Then sir, there is your bust and there sir are your ten pounds. I'm much obliged. I imagine that's all except for one small formality. If you kindly sign this paper in the presence of my friends here or it simply says that you transfer every possible right that you ever had in this parson to me. I'm a methodical man you see. I've heard of your famous methods, Mr. Holmes. There you are, sir. Thank you. And now I suppose you want to be getting back to reading. Indeed. Good Evening to you, Mr. Holmes. Gentlemen. Good evening. Good evening. Well, well, well. Just had to have one of those things for your collection, eh, Mr. Holmes? For ten pounds I wouldn't give you a twopence and go. Holmes, you smashed it. Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the famous black pearl of the Forgia. The what? Great heaven. Yes, gentlemen, the most famous pearl now existing in the world and it's been my good fortune by a chain of inductive reasoning to trace it from the Princess of Colonna's bedroom where it was lost to the interior of this, the last of the six busts of Napoleon manufactured by Gilder & Co. Estate Stephanie. Remarkable, Holmes. But how on earth? You may remember that when the pearl disappeared the suspected person was the princess's maid. In Italian. Her name as it happens, was Lucrezia Venucci. That's the name of the murdered man. Exactly. The brother she was known to have in London but who couldn't be traced. Now whether our murderer Beppo stole the pearl from Pietro or whether they were accomplices and fellows, I do not know. The main fact which I discovered by looking it up in the old newspapers is that the pearl was stolen from the princess just two days before Beppo was arrested for stabbing another employee of Gelder & Co. In the street. So where does that take us? It took Beppo with a pearl in his possession and the police hot on his track for this stabbing back to Gelder's factory where he worked. He knew he had only a few minutes to Hide the pearl. Where should he put it? 6 plaster casts of Napoleon were drying and one of them was still soft. In an instant Beppo made a small hole in the wet plaster, inserted the pearl and covered up the faces. What a hiding place. Admirable. But by the time he emerged from prison a year later, the six busts had been sold. He had no means of knowing which of them contained his treasure. He had to track them down one by one and smash them open to find it. Well, I'm blowed. He carried out his search with considerable ingenuity and perseverance. He found four of the bars but none of them contained the pearl. And on the fourth occasion he fell file of his ex accomplice and murdered him. So that was it. Well, after the murder I calculated that Pepper would probably hurry his movement for fear the police should get onto his secret and start looking for him again. He had found four, but two remain. The chances were, as I told you, two to one that the next he found would be the one he was seeking. It was obvious to me that he would choose the London one first. I warned the owner of the house by express letter to keep out of the way for fear of violence. The rest you know. Having taken our man without finding the pearl on him, I could only assume that it must be concealed in the sixth and last bus as it was. Well, I've seen you handle a good many cases, Mr. Holmes, but I don't know that I ever knew a more workmanlike one than that. Thank you, thank you. Put the pearl in the safe, Watson, and get out the papers on the Conk Singleton forgery case. Oh, goodbye, Lestrade. If any little problem comes your way at any time, I shall be happy if I can, to give you a hint or two as to its solution. That was the Six Napoleons by Michael Hardwick, based on the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes was played by Carlton Hobbs and Dr. Watson by Norman Shelley. Production for the BBC was by Martin C. Webster.