Rache - Sherlock Holmes' First Case Quiz

Answer: He deduced that Watson had been in Afghanistan.

Sherlock Holmes was introduced to Watson by Stamford. Holmes had just discovered a reagent fueled by hemoglobin when the two were introduced. As he later explained, Holmes was able to deduce that Watson had been in Afghanistan because Watson was a medical man with a military air.

His skin was tinted like he had been somewhere in the tropics, and his left arm was injured. In the space of a second, Holmes deduced that Watson had been in Afghanistan.

Answer: Enoch Drebber

Holmes received a letter from Tobias Gregson of Scotland Yard stating that there had been a murder at No. 3, Lauriston Gardens. Holmes went and pretty much solved the case on his own, though he wouldn't disclose his facts. Lestrade finds the word "Rache" written in blood on the wall. It is German for "revenge."

Answer: a drunkard

Holmes learned this upon his visit to John Rance. Rance said that the street was empty except for a very drunk chap singing at the top of his lungs. He was tall and had a red face, too. Holmes was very unhappy that the murderer had slipped from the police's grasp.

Answer: gold wedding ring

Holmes thought that the murderer would not rest until he had the ring. He placed an advertisement in the paper that anyone interested in a ring lost off Brixton Road should inquire at 221B Baker Street. They were to speak to a Dr Watson. They prepared a fake ring to give away.

Answer: an old lady

The woman called herself Sawyer, and said her daugher, Sally, had lost it. After she was given the ring (which was not the real one)and left, Holmes pursued her. Unfortunately, the "old lady" gave him the slip when "she" ordered a cab and slipped out while the driver was driving. Holmes suspected that she was actually an active young man in disguise.

Answer: Joseph Stangerson

Lestrade had suspicions that Stangerson was involved in the murder of Drebber, so he wanted to pay him a visit. However, when he entered his room, Stangerson was dead of stab wounds. The word "RACHE" was written in letters of blood.

Answer: cab driver

As he later explains, Jefferson Hope had followed Stangerson and Drebber all over the world, but he had run short of money in London. He applied for the job of cab driver, where he could still keep a close eye on his prey (once he found them, of course).

Answer: Mormons

John and Lucy were the only ones left of a group that had been journeying west. They had reached the Great Alkali Plain and had run out of water. The Mormons sighted them passing through and took them in.

Answer: They would have to follow their rescuer's creed.

The Mormons agreed to take John and Lucy as long as they would follow the Mormon religion forever. John was desperate to get out of the desert, so he readily agreed. Lucy was not his true daughter, but John took her in as a daughter.

Answer: He must marry Lucy into Drebber's or Stangerson's family.

Brigham Young stated that John Ferrier was violating the condition on which he was brought here, that is, not following the Mormon creed. He wasn't married, but Brigham Young wanted Lucy married. She had 30 days to pick between Stangerson and Drebber, but they escaped on their final night.

Answer: John Ferrier had been killed, and Lucy was gone.

Jefferson Hope had shot a bighorn sheep during their escape and was heading back to Lucy and John. When he reached the spot where they had been, he found a grave of John Ferrier with a short, insignificant epitaph. He was enraged, and the desire for revenge gripped him.

Answer: She died.

After doing a little poking around the Mormon town, Jefferson Hope was able to find out that Stangerson was the one who shot John, but Drebber was the one who married Lucy, the love of his life. When she died, he took her ring from her finger as a token to remember her by. He then proceeded to follow Drebber and Stangerson everywhere they went with only one purpose in mind: revenge!

Answer: Drebber picked a poison pill out of two identical pills.

Mr Jefferson Hope got Drebber alone in the house, and then cornered him. He offered Drebber the choice of two pills, and he would eat the other one. It was just a chance (or was it?) that Drebber picked the poison pill. His eyes were filled with hatred as he died.

Answer: It was never revealed.

When telling his story, he omitted no details about his elaborate murder scheme. When Holmes asked him about his accomplice, he immediately hushed up, saying he didn't get other people into trouble.

Answer: aortic aneurism

Mr Jefferson Hope knew he was about to die, so he wanted Holmes and Watson to know the whole story about why he killed the two men. He made his statement to them, and was then thrown in jail. Shortly thereafter (before he could be tried), Mr Jefferson Hope died.