Published:
1893, also appears in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'
GLOR
According to Sherlock Holmes himself, this was the first case of his career and takes place at the estate of a friend from the university. A man named Hudson, who obviously has had some previous dealings with the friend's father, appears and begins to boss the father around. Although no one seems to stand him, the father makes him the butler of the household and he soon assumes the role of Master of the House. Eventually Holmes' friend tires of him and sends him away, but a few weeks later a mysterious letter arrives and upon reading it the father dies of a stroke. It is later discovered that the father was once involved in a prison break and mutiny on the ship 'Gloria Scott', and that Hudson knew his secret and threatened to expose him. Hudson disappears without a trace, though and Holmes speulates that he has been murdered by another of the men from the ship.
Holmes does not play a major role in this story, in fact he doesn't do anything to alter the flow of events. The criminal (if indeed he can be considered a criminal) is never caught, and we don't know if he really gets killed or what happens to his killer. There are a few interesting things though. Firstly, we get a rare peek into Holmes' life prior to meeting Watson, and he gladly admits that he has no real friends (except Watson, of course). Secondly, there are some subtle details in the description of the father in the story; he serves as a judge, but is renowned for his mildness and compassion. Could this be because he was once himself sentenced to deportation for the minor crime of embezzlement?