Episode 447 - Playing Tricks with the Law of England

“play tricks with me and I’ll crush you” [ABBE] 

Was Sherlock Holmes too lenient with how he handled some of the criminals he defeated? There are a number whom he caught and set free, flouting the law in the process.

Inspired by a recent article in The Baker Street Journal, we look at examples in a handful of stories and compare the fates of the accused in each. Did they get what they deserved? It's much more than just a Trifle.

If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift.

Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (Patreon | Substack).

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Download | 35.3 MB 24:39

Links

• Related episodes:
• Episode 183 - Justice, Part 1: Unresolved
• Episode 184 - Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate
• Episode 187 - Justice, Part 3: Comeuppance
• All of our social links: https://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com 

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 416 – Sherlock Holmes Was No Burglar

“I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal” [CHAS] 

In some cases, Sherlock Holmes was a bit of a vigilante in his pursuit of justice. He didn't mind breaking the law in a good cause. That led to him burgling various households. 

Or did it? S. Tupper Bigelow, BSI ("The Five Orange Pips") was a lawyer by trade and disabuses us of the notion that Sherlock Holmes was a burglar. Some of it is a mere technicality, but it's all a Trifle.

Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.

All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today.

Download | 30.4 MB, 29:22 

Leave Trifles a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Links / Notes

• All of our social links: https://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra 

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band 

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 296 – The Metaphysical Holmes

“I caught a glimpse of a great heart” [3GAB] 

Without a question, Sherlock Holmes was a master of his craft. When we look at his motivations for pursuing his career—at least on the surface—he seems like he's all business.

And yet, we have glimpses of Holmes over the course of his career when he waxes a bit more philosophical. David Stuart Davies' column "A Great Heart" in the latest issue of Sherlock Holmes Magazine got us thinking about it.  And it's just a Trifle.

If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

This is the episode in which we announce our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. Every Patreon supporter is eligible to win this random drawing. Join our community of patrons to be eligible.

Download | 31.3 MB, 22:48

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles296
• Sherlock Holmes Magazine
• Other episodes mentioned:
• Episode 183 - Justice, Part 1: Unresolved
• Episode 184 - Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 206: Sherlock Holmes Magazine
• Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways.

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 193 – Palmer and Pritchard

 "Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession" [SPEC]  

When he was facing off against Dr. Grimesby Roylott, Sherlock Holmes asserted "When a doctor

does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession."

Claiming that Roylott struck even deeper, we wondered: just what did Palmer and Pritchard do that might compare to Dr. Roylott's ophidian crimes? What we discovered was more than a Trifle.

Download | 9.4 MB, 20:49

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · Palmer and Pritchard

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. 

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles193
• William Palmer (Wikipedia)
• Edward Pritchard (Wikipedia)

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 187 – Justice, Part 3: Comeuppance

“there never was a man who deserved punishment more” [IDEN] 

There are certain instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories where the villain is so foul, so deserving of punishment, that it's a relief to see them get theirs. It's justice served.

We can think of a couple, off the tops of our heads. Perhaps you have others in mind? It's just a Trifle.

Download | 11.5 MB, 25:07

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles187
• Previous episodes in this series:
• Episode 183 - Justice, Part 1: Unresolved
• Episode 184 - Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 184 – Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate

“I do not feel justified in doing it” [HOUN] 

In the last episode, we talked about the uncertainty of justice at the conclusion of some stories. Did the perpetrators find justice raining down on them? In some cases, it was left up to the reader's imagination.

This episode we're looking at some instances of justice that may not have been in proportion to the crime – or non crime, as the case may be.  It's just a Trifle.

Download | 9.8 MB, 21:30

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles184

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 183 – Justice, Part 1: Unresolved

“It’s every man’s business to see justice done” [CROO] 

Everyone likes a neat ending. The case is solved, the criminal is caught, and justice is served.

But what about those Sherlock Holmes stories where the criminals escape? When the final action happens off-page or off-screen? There's not the same resolution there as when a Scotland Yard inspector claps handcuffs on the accused. Or is there?  It's just a Trifle.

Download | 11.8 MB, 25:46

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles183

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 107 - An Inspector Calls

“the smartest of the Scotland Yarders” [SIGN] 

If you ask anyone familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories to name a Scotland Yard inspector, they'll invariably answer, "Inspector Lestrade."

But Sherlock Holmes had a healthy respect for a handful of other police inspectors, both from Scotland Yard and from the surrounding areas. Who were they, and in which stories did they appear?

Download | 7.9 MB, 17:08

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And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles107
• RadioPublic

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Irregulars Press

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 78 - Where Are They Now? Inspector Gregson

"the smartest of the Scotland Yarders" [STUD] 

When you think of a Scotland Yard inspector in the Sherlock Holmes stories, odds are your thoughts immediately go to Inspector Lestrade. He makes the most appearances in stories and certainly gets the most name recognition, in part thanks to Dennis Hoey's portrayal of the bumbling but capable policeman.

But what about good old Inspector Gregson, who appeared alongside Lestrade in the very first Sherlock Holmes story? He manages to make a number of appearances, but doesn't rise to the same level of household awareness. We look at his trifling (and non-trifling) appearances in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Download | 7.3 MB, 16:02 

Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles78

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 53 - Compounding a Felony

"compound a felony as usual." [3GAB] 

Welcome to Season 2 of Trifles. We'll be working through some of the questions we ask in our show introductions this season, including a number of recurring themes. We hope you'll subscribe.

In Episode 48 ("Gotcha!") we discussed times when Sherlock Holmes caught his criminal red-handed, dead to rights. But what about the times that he caught criminals but let them go?

Was it solely his strong sense of right and wrong that caused Holmes to allow them to go free? Or was he simply disdainful of the official police? And what was it that he was doing with regard to felonies - compounding, commuting, or condoning? It's just a Trifle.

Download | 8.6 MB, 18:43 

Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon.

Links / Notes

• The Hero's Journey
• A Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Christopher Redmond
• The Encyclopedia Sherlockiana by Jack Tracy

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra 

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band 

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 48 - Gotcha!

"you have been caught in the act" [BERY] 

One of the general bits of enjoyment of the Sherlock Holmes stories is the denouement in which Sherlock Holmes apprehends the criminal. In some instances, he does so after the crime has been committed; in other instances, no crime has been committed.

But what about those delicious times when the criminals are caught in the act? Or even better, those instances when they greeted with sweet, swift justice.

Download | 8.5 MB, 18:29 

Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon.

Links / Notes

• "The Dying Detective"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra 

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band 

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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5 - Moral Relativism in Charles Augustus Milverton

Charles Augustus Milverton was considered by Sherlock Holmes to be "the worst man in London." Watson tried to shield the date of the case — not to protect Milverton, but to protect his victims.

And Holmes and Watson went to extraordinary lengths to defeat the odious blackmailer, from burglary to destruction of property, and even a faux engagement by Holmes. While reputation was everything in Victorian times, did the pair go too far? Their willingness to break the law was in service of victims, but what about their own reputations and adherence to the law?

Download | 7.5 MB 16:29

Please subscribe to us on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links

• An online version of some of the chronologies of the stories 

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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