Sherlock Holmes -E39 :The Case Of The Tyrants Daughter
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
A chemist is accused of the murder of his fiancé's stepfather, who was determined to keep the two apart. Although there is mounting evidence of the chemist's guilt, Holmes is requested by the old man's housekeeper to investigate the case, as she believes the young man to be innocent.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
A chemist is accused of the murder of his fiancé's stepfather, who was determined to keep the two apart. Although there is mounting evidence of the chemist's guilt, Holmes is requested by the old man's housekeeper to investigate the case, as she believes the young man to be innocent.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
01:00Here, here. Do you want me to take you in for peeping?
01:11Hello, Tim. On your way home?
01:13Oh, finally. Oh, my feet, they ain't half numb.
01:16Something the matter in there?
01:18Yeah, just the light. I notice it's been burning for a couple of days now.
01:22Wondering if I shouldn't step in and tell them about it.
01:24I reckon they must have left it burning by mistake, you know.
01:28They'll know all about it when they get their gas bill next month.
01:30Yeah, I know. Seems a shame though, doesn't it?
01:32Still, I don't think it'll do much harm to go and ask them if they know it's on.
01:35I hope they didn't tell you to mind your own business and pack you off.
01:38Well, I'm just going to have my pint before supper.
01:41Cheerio. Cheerio, Tim.
01:50Afternoon, sir.
01:58Holmes! Poison?
02:16Yes, well, it's an Egyptian, as a matter of fact.
02:18I'd read about it before, but I'd never worked with it.
02:21That's the key part!
02:23Oh, yes, sir, it is. I'm sorry about that.
02:26But there doesn't seem to be anything else empty at the moment.
02:28Is nothing immune in this place?
02:32Really, Holmes, there must be something else you could have used.
02:34Oh, there's nothing to worry about, Watson.
02:36It's perfectly soluble.
02:38I'll have the pot washed out and ready for use by the time you come back from Regent's Park.
02:42You conceal yourself the trouble!
02:44That's the last drop I'll ever drink out of that pot!
02:56I say, Holmes.
03:00How in thunder did you know I was going to Regent's Park?
03:03Well, a simple deduction, my dear fellow.
03:05Take a look at your clothes.
03:09Oh, what's the matter with them?
03:11I might easily be going to the club in these.
03:13You're immaculate, except for those old shoes.
03:16Hmm? Oh, those, I've forgotten all about those.
03:20So I didn't tell you.
03:23Oh, those, I've forgotten all about those.
03:25So I deduce that you're going to a place where you're likely to meet people,
03:28but also you're liable to scuff your shoes.
03:30The gravel paths of a public park seem to fit that perfectly.
03:35Hmm.
03:37But why Regent's particularly?
03:39We're lunching at 12.30, and since it's now nearly 11,
03:42I assume that your choice of parks is limited to the most convenient one,
03:46that being Regent's, of course.
03:49Ah.
03:52A simple deduction, really.
03:54I wonder who that can be this time of the morning.
03:57Would you care to deduce it, Watson?
03:59No, I think it'd be simpler if I just opened the door.
04:06Would you be Mr. Sherlock Holmes?
04:08No, but won't you come in?
04:10It's Mr. Holmes I've got to be finding.
04:12I am Sherlock Holmes, madam. Won't you be seated?
04:15I will, Ralph. I'm sure I've lost a bit of me breath.
04:18Have you come far?
04:20Not from Chelsea, I have, sir.
04:22That's a long way indeed.
04:24May I introduce my very good friend and colleague, Dr. Watson?
04:26Good morning, dear.
04:28My name's Dugan, sir. Mary Dugan.
04:30No doubt you find it a bit odd,
04:32having a stranger burst upon you in the height of the morning like this,
04:35but I've come from a house black with sorrow to ask your help.
04:38It is the house I work in.
04:40Is there some difficulty in the house?
04:42Difficulty?
04:44Aye, and more.
04:46There's murder.
04:49Murder, is it? Now, this is most interesting.
04:51Won't you go on, Mrs. Dugan?
04:53It is the master of the place himself,
04:55Mr. Haringway, that's dead.
04:57Found by the bobby of our street.
04:59Filled with a dose of something
05:01with a great long name, the old man was.
05:03But surely if he was found by the police...
05:05The police?
05:07Surely it's them that brings me here.
05:09For they've come and rolled young Mr. Vernon
05:11off to jail for committing the crime.
05:13Mr. Vernon?
05:15Aye, a strapping lad who's soon to marry
05:17my stepdaughter, Janet.
05:19I gather that you're not in agreement
05:21with the police, Mrs. Dugan.
05:23I'm sure that's the problem.
05:25That's what's been torturing me all through these black nights
05:27and making me life unbearable.
05:29You see, Mr. Holmes,
05:31it was my testimony and my testimony only
05:33that's put Mr. Vernon in jail.
05:35It's because of what I told the police
05:37that he's sitting in the cell this very moment
05:39waiting for his time to go.
05:42And yet you believe
05:44that young Vernon is innocent.
05:46I'm certain the lad's innocent.
05:48Sure, I feel it in me bones.
05:50Yes, but I say, didn't you tell the police the truth?
05:52I told them the truth, sir,
05:54but somehow unbeknownst to me
05:56I must have lied.
05:58Perhaps you'd better start your story
06:00from the beginning, Mrs. Dugan.
06:02Aye.
06:04Well, it all happened last Friday afternoon.
06:06Late in the afternoon it was
06:08for I was soon to leave in the house
06:11having the weekend off as I do.
06:13It would be about 5 o'clock
06:15when there was suddenly
06:17a great clatter upon the door.
06:27Hello, Mrs. Dugan.
06:29Oh, good afternoon to you, Mr. Vernon.
06:31Mr. Haringway asked to see me.
06:33Is he in his usual ugly mood?
06:35Sure you shouldn't be talking like that, Mr. Vernon.
06:37You know, it makes Miss Janet very unhappy
06:39to hear you two fighting all the time.
06:41Well, if he wasn't such a stupid old...
06:43Where is Janet?
06:45Oh, she's away to her aunt in Manchester.
06:47She wasn't to go until tomorrow.
06:49Oh, I know nothing of that, sir,
06:51but I can swear he put her on her way
06:53this very afternoon.
06:55I doubt if her aunt's sick again.
06:57It looks like another of his tricks
06:59to keep us apart.
07:01Well, where is he?
07:03In his study, sir.
07:05He's asked me to show you right in.
07:08All right.
07:10Come in.
07:14Mr. Vernon, sir.
07:16Would that be all?
07:18No, Mrs. Dugan.
07:20I want you to remain.
07:22Remain, sir?
07:24Just sit over there
07:26and listen to every word that's said.
07:30I'm sorry, Mr. Vernon,
07:32but I can't do that.
07:34Why not?
07:36What is this?
07:38What have you got in your mind now?
07:40Young man,
07:42I have a very simple offer to make,
07:44and I want Mrs. Dugan here
07:46to be witness to it.
07:48Well, what kind of offer?
07:50I'll give you a thousand pounds
07:52to clear out of Janet's life.
07:54You must be out of your mind.
07:56On the contrary.
07:58Only a fool would refuse
08:00such beneficence.
08:02You disgust me.
08:05You disgust me.
08:07Your tastes don't interest me.
08:09I want only to rid you
08:11from Janet's life.
08:13Stay right here.
08:15I intend to finish.
08:17I happen to be in love with Janet,
08:19but I could hardly expect
08:21you to understand a thing like that.
08:23A thousand pounds is a lot of money,
08:25and for you,
08:27probably more than you'll ever have
08:29the rest of your life.
08:31Think of it.
08:34It's just for clearing out.
08:36When I clear out, as you put it,
08:38I'm going to take Janet with me.
08:40I warn you,
08:42this is your only chance to gain anything.
08:44You must always win, mustn't you?
08:46Every little thing has to be your way,
08:48even if it means
08:50destroying your daughter's happiness.
08:52I'm not interfering with her happiness.
08:54I only want to cleanse
08:56her life of a bit of trash.
08:58You may have had her under your fist all her life,
09:00but she'll break away now.
09:02If you don't do what I tell you,
09:04Janet's going to marry me.
09:08Mr. Haringway!
09:12Medicine.
09:14My medicine in the cupboard in the next room.
09:16I'll get it.
09:18Green bottle on shelf.
09:24I never lose,
09:26Mrs. Dougal.
09:28I never lose.
09:31Coming!
09:53I feel much better.
09:57Well,
09:59you don't need to stare.
10:01I'm all right.
10:03Now get out of here!
10:05Both of you!
10:07Get out!
10:15Get out!
10:23A few minutes later, I left the house.
10:25And that's the last I ever saw
10:28of Mr. Haringway alive.
10:30I see.
10:32And what did you tell the police
10:34when they questioned you?
10:36Sure, I told them everything,
10:38just as it happened.
10:40About the bottle Mr. Vernon took out of his coat pocket,
10:42the sudden quarrel,
10:44Mr. Haringway's attack of illness,
10:46and Mr. Vernon going to get the medicine.
10:48Had this been sufficient to have young Vernon
10:50remanded on a charge of murder?
10:52Aye, for the police informed me
10:54that it was the medicine,
10:57that killed the poor old man.
10:59They say that poison was put into the medicine.
11:01Yes, but look here,
11:03that certainly seems to point towards the young man.
11:05When he went to obtain the medicine,
11:07he apparently slipped in the lethal dose.
11:09It seems that way, sir.
11:11But in my heart, I can't bring myself to believe it of him.
11:13That Inspector Lestrade, though,
11:15he won't believe another thing else.
11:17Lestrade, eh?
11:19He's the policeman who seems to be in charge of it all.
11:21Indeed.
11:23Inspector Lestrade, you hear that, Watson?
11:25Well, if you think it'll help.
11:27Aye. Then a thousand blessings
11:29on the pair of you.
11:31I don't know what we can promise you, Mrs. Dugan.
11:33I shall have to have a word with Mr. Vernon
11:35before I can express an opinion on the case.
11:37However, we shall certainly go and see Inspector Lestrade
11:39at once.
11:41I'm sure I know it looks dark and all, but
11:43I must keep up hope.
11:45Well, I must be off.
11:47I don't like leaving Miss Janet alone for so long.
11:49Naturally, Mrs. Dugan. Well, we'll certainly do our best.
11:51Thank you, sir.
11:55I can't see any reason for it.
12:07The man is guilty.
12:09Anything you want to know, I can tell you myself.
12:11Oh, come, come, Lestrade.
12:13I only want to ask the young man a few questions.
12:15It's time for my lunch.
12:17You needn't come.
12:19Now, look here, Holmes.
12:21There was a very large dose of strychnine
12:24in that medicine.
12:26The only person who could possibly have put it there
12:28was young Vernon.
12:30Or Mrs. Dugan?
12:32No, she didn't have any reason to.
12:34Besides, Vernon was a chemist.
12:36He had access to all sorts of poisons.
12:38Indeed, he was a chemist.
12:40You hear that, Watson?
12:42Young Vernon was a chemist.
12:44Yes, indeed, Holmes.
12:46Yes, I thought you'd be interested to hear that.
12:48I am indeed.
12:50It is most important, and I insist upon seeing the young man immediately.
12:52All right, all right, all right.
12:58I don't see what you could possibly gain from this.
13:00But if you insist, you can see for yourself.
13:02This whole attitude merely supports the evidence.
13:06Well, here we are.
13:08Inspector Lestrade.
13:10Yes, sir.
13:16Well now, Vernon.
13:18Well now, Inspector.
13:21How many times a day are you going to bring me up here
13:23and subject me to your idiotic questions?
13:25I've already told you everything I know,
13:27and I'm getting tired of repeating it every half hour
13:29so that it'll penetrate your dense brain.
13:31Look here, young man.
13:33That's hardly an attitude to take.
13:35You're charged with the most serious crime.
13:37Indeed, I am.
13:39And since it appears I have to pay for it,
13:41my only regret is that I didn't have the pleasure of committing it.
13:43There's just one point...
13:45I don't know who you are, but you may as well know
13:47that I don't wish to answer any of your questions either.
13:50That should be enough.
13:52So good day to the lot of you.
13:54Good day to you, Mr. Vernon.
13:56And thank you very much.
13:58You've been most helpful.
14:06Personate young rogue.
14:08Very interesting, Lestrade.
14:10Certainly not, Watson.
14:12We have a killer to catch.
14:14Killer?
14:16What do you think you were just talking to?
14:18Not as innocent as Dr. Watson, me, and you.
14:20Or perhaps not quite as innocent as you.
14:36What can you possibly find to be so amusing?
14:38Oh, I was thinking about Lestrade's face
14:40when that young scamp called him an idiot.
14:44Holmes, do you really believe that young man's innocent?
14:48Strychnine, Watson.
14:50Combined with the fact that young Vernon's a chemist.
14:52Tell me, how quickly does strychnine act?
14:54Oh, a matter of minutes.
14:56Half an hour at the most.
14:58Exactly.
15:00He did not know that the house would be empty
15:02when he went to visit old Mr. Haringway.
15:04He fully expected that Mrs. Dugan and Janet would be there.
15:06Right enough.
15:08Mrs. Dugan indicated that.
15:10All right.
15:12Now, would a man with a wide variety of poisons to choose from
15:14choose a quick-acting drug
15:17or would he be more likely to choose something
15:19a little slower
15:21which would allow him ample time
15:23to be miles away at the time of death?
15:25Yes, I...
15:27I follow your reasoning, Holmes,
15:29but surely
15:31you don't accept that as conclusive.
15:33Oh, I didn't.
15:35Until I spoke to young Vernon.
15:37But you didn't learn anything from him, did you?
15:41Ah, here's the mortuary.
15:43Shall we go and have a close look at the victim, Watson?
15:45Holmes asked to see
15:47the medical examiner's report
15:49and as we prepared to enter the mortuary
15:51he explained his theory
15:53that Vernon's violent temper
15:55didn't fit into the cold-blooded pattern
15:57of this crime.
15:59Hmm.
16:01A particular sort of fellow,
16:03our friend Haringway.
16:05Now, why do you say that?
16:07Well, notice the well-kept hair,
16:09the neatly trimmed moustache.
16:11Mm-hmm.
16:14Wasn't so particular about his hands, were he?
16:16What do you mean, Watson?
16:18Well, look, the dirt's actually packed in under those nails
16:20and even gone into the cuticles.
16:22Hmm. I say it's a bit incongruous
16:24with this perfect manicuring.
16:26Yes, especially as this hand's
16:28absolutely immaculate.
16:30Wait a minute, Watson.
16:32This isn't ordinary dirt.
16:34This is soil.
16:36Well...
16:38Amateur gardener, perhaps.
16:40These hands never did any gardening.
16:43They display a lifelong devotion
16:45to immaculate cleanliness.
16:47And this hand obviously
16:49became dirty too near to death
16:51to be cleaned.
16:53Mr. Holmes,
16:55here's the report you asked for, sir.
16:57Oh, thank you.
16:59What are you doing it that for, Holmes?
17:01You know the cause of death was trichnine.
17:03Oh, this should interest you, Watson. Listen.
17:05The blood test indicated an extreme leukocytic state
17:07sufficient to be diagnosed
17:09as advanced leukocephemia.
17:11Well, Mrs. Duggan said he was ill,
17:13but not to that extent.
17:15Watson, tell me,
17:17how long do you estimate
17:19Haringway would have lived
17:21had he not been given that dose of trichnine?
17:23Well, it's difficult to judge
17:25with this information, but I'd say
17:27well, certainly under a year.
17:29Then we are looking
17:31for someone who couldn't afford
17:33to wait a year.
17:35An impatient murderer.
17:37Then that fits in
17:40with Vernon's violent temperament.
17:42It appears so, Watson.
17:44It appears so.
17:46And yet there's still something missing.
17:48A bottle.
17:50A little mysterious bottle.
17:56Watson, would you go and collect Mrs. Duggan
17:58and take her around to Vernon's apartment?
18:00Ah, yes, of course.
18:04What will you be doing meantime?
18:06Oh, I'm going over to Vernon's place now.
18:08There are a few things I want to check over
18:10before you arrive.
18:12But it's bound to be locked up.
18:14How can I get in?
18:16With a key.
18:18Have you got the key to Vernon's apartment?
18:22I hope so.
18:38We came as quickly as we could.
18:40Thank you, Watson.
18:42Do you think it's proper bursting into
18:44a strange man's apartment like this?
18:46It isn't proper in the least, Mrs. Duggan,
18:48but if we're going to help young Vernon,
18:50I'm afraid there's very little choice.
18:52What is it you want me to do?
18:54Do you believe, Mrs. Vernon,
18:56that you could identify the bottle
18:58that he took from his coat pocket
19:00on the day of the murder?
19:02Yes, I think so.
19:04I think so.
19:07Yes, I think I can.
19:09Good. Then would you mind examining these
19:11and take your choice,
19:13if any?
19:29This one.
19:33You're certain?
19:36I am absolutely certain.
19:38Thank you, Mrs. Duggan.
19:40Thank you very much.
19:48Holmes!
19:50It's all right, Watson. It's quite harmless.
19:52It's oil of cloves.
19:54Oil of clo...
19:56Mrs. Duggan, I presume that your employer was a teetotaler.
19:58He was that.
20:00There was never a drop of anything at all in the house.
20:02Hated the stuff he did.
20:04It's essential for young Vernon, Watson.
20:06We have now only to visit
20:08Mr. Haringway's study
20:10to forge the final link of proof
20:12against a most
20:14amazing murderer.
20:22Really, Miss Haringway,
20:24I hope you realize that in this case
20:26I find myself in a particularly difficult position.
20:28But, as a police officer,
20:30I have no alternative.
20:33I must follow the dictates of the law.
20:35But Tom didn't do it.
20:37He couldn't have done it.
20:39It just can't be.
20:41Precisely the opinion I expressed to you this morning, Lestrade.
20:43Holmes!
20:47Ah, Miss Janet,
20:49this is Mr. Sherlock Holmes
20:51and this here gentleman's Dr. Watson, his friend.
20:53It is because of me that they're here, if you see.
20:55I went to them begging for their help.
20:57Help?
20:59It was your fiancé's arrest that prompted Mrs. Duggan, I believe.
21:01I see. Sit down. Sit down, please.
21:03Well, really, Holmes,
21:05why do you persist in this?
21:07I've always had the greatest respect
21:09for your ability, but in this case,
21:11well, you astound me.
21:13Oh, now, now, come along, Lestrade.
21:15Well, it's true.
21:17Vernon had access to poison.
21:19He was here when it was taken.
21:21And, above all, look at the motive.
21:23Just look at the motive.
21:25Who else had such a motive?
21:27Who else? Inspector,
21:30I didn't know my stepfather.
21:32He was a tyrant who loved nothing,
21:34no one.
21:36His whole ambition was power
21:38and his whole pleasure was to rule.
21:40To my stepfather, my marriage meant
21:42only a loss of power,
21:44part of his kingdom,
21:46and he fought it in every way.
21:48Life here became unbearable
21:50after I met Tom.
21:52Mrs. Duggan can testify to that.
21:54Well, it is true he was not a kindly man
21:56and he did begin to get a bit hard of late.
21:59I see.
22:01There were some flowers in this room.
22:03Where are they?
22:05Flowers, sir.
22:07Holmes!
22:09Now he's interested in flowers.
22:11Petunias, perhaps?
22:13Mrs. Duggan?
22:15Why should I? I put them out in the yard
22:17to get a bit of sunlight, sir.
22:19So dark it wasn't here.
22:21Then there were some flowers.
22:23Mrs. Duggan, would you be kind enough to fetch them, please?
22:25Yes, sir.
22:27This matter has got to do with...
22:29Watch.
22:31You know, Inspector,
22:33your difficulties in this case
22:35really must be overlooked.
22:37Do you know that you've been deliberately duped?
22:39And very cleverly, I might add.
22:41I haven't been duped at all.
22:43I've got my man.
22:45No, you see, you were looking for a murderer,
22:47whereas, of course, there isn't one.
22:49First it's Petunias.
22:51Now there's no murder.
22:53There's a body, but no murder.
22:56You see, Mr. Haringway committed suicide.
22:58There was no indication
23:00of suicide whatsoever.
23:02No message? Nothing.
23:04Well, naturally there was no indication of suicide
23:06because it was deliberately planned to look like murder.
23:08Are you serious?
23:10Completely, Miss Haringway.
23:12You see, your stepfather was more of a tyrant
23:14than you imagine.
23:16Losing you to Vernon meant losing power.
23:18And so, first of all,
23:20he tried to bully him.
23:22Then he tried to bribe him.
23:24And when that failed, he tried to kill him.
23:26Mr. Haringway tried to kill Vernon?
23:28Yes, Watson.
23:30By committing suicide in such a way
23:32that Vernon would be blamed
23:34and executed for Haringway's death.
23:36The stage was set,
23:38the heart attack was feigned,
23:40and Vernon was sent to get the medicine.
23:42If Haringway took the poison himself,
23:44where did he hide the bottle?
23:46Of course, that's right.
23:48The poison acted too fast for him
23:50to dispose of the container.
23:53He did dispose of the container, Watson.
23:55And if my theory is correct,
23:57it should be in one of the two flowerpots
23:59that Mrs. Dugan is holding.
24:11And a chemical analysis
24:13will reveal that it contains strychnine.
24:17The dirt under the fingernails.
24:19Exactly, Watson.
24:22And you said it got there close to the time of death.
24:24Then Haringway committed suicide.
24:28Yes, Lestrade.
24:30And Tom is innocent.
24:34Simple.
24:36Completely.
24:40Holmes, you know,
24:42you never did explain to me
24:44what the oil of clothes was for.
24:46Oh, you mean the mysterious little bottle
24:48that Vernon removed from his coat pocket?
24:50Oh, it's really quite simple, you know.
24:52You see, Vernon stopped at the pub
24:54for a few stiff whiskeys
24:56to brace himself for his interview with Haringway.
24:58But the old man was violently opposed
25:00to the use of alcohol,
25:02so he had to do something
25:04to remove the evidence from his breath.
25:06Oil of clothes is quite common for that purpose.
25:08Ah, I see. Tea?
25:10No, no, no, none for me.
25:12I've had some before.
25:14My digestion is not quite up to it.
25:16Your digestion?
25:19I mixed our tea with some of that rare Egyptian poison.
25:27But, but, confounded man,
25:29the tea is ruined!
25:31Oh, fair enough, old man,
25:33but so is my poison.
25:48THE END
26:18THE END
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