Scene 15 · Notes

Notes Scene 15: The Newspaper Report

Notes on this scene

A newspaper report describes how the jewel vanished from the countess's room and how Horner was charged despite protesting his innocence. The scene establishes this development clearly and closes before the next step begins, preserving the original passage's order and the limits of what the characters know at this point.

Japanese in this scene

暖炉だんろの火ひ格子こうしの二に本ほん目めの棒ぼうがゆるんでいたのをはんだ付づけさせるため
In はんだ付けさせるため, verb + ため marks purpose: Horner was called in so that he could solder the grate.
のちに分わかったところでは
This means “according to what was learned later.” The pattern 〜たところでは presents information on the basis of what was found or observed.
前まえの証人しょうにんが述のべたとおりの有様ありさまだった
In 前の証人が述べたとおりの有様だった, だった is the plain past copula and identifies what the preceding noun or description was.
モーカー伯爵はくしゃく夫人ふじんの宝石ほうせき箱ばこから
In モーカー伯爵夫人の宝石箱から, から marks the source, starting point, or reason supplied by the preceding phrase.

Background

magistrate
A magistrate decided minor cases and determined whether serious charges should be sent to a higher court. The newspaper reports Horner's hearing before such a judge.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, where she found matters as described by the last witness. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was carried out of court."

「ホテル・コスモポリタン宝石盗難事件。配管工ジョン・ホーナー(26)は、今月 22 日、モーカー伯爵夫人の宝石箱から、青いガーネットの名で知られる高価な宝石を盗み出した容疑で、法廷に引き出された。同ホテルの客室係主任ジェイムズ・ライダーの証言によれば、彼は盗難の当日、暖炉の火格子の二本目の棒がゆるんでいたのをはんだ付けさせるため、ホーナーをモーカー伯爵夫人の化粧室へ案内した。ライダーはしばらくホーナーと一緒にいたが、やがて呼ばれてその場を離れた。戻ってみると、ホーナーの姿はなく、書き物机はこじ開けられ、のちに分かったところでは伯爵夫人がいつも宝石をしまっていたモロッコ革の小箱が、空のまま化粧台の上に転がっていた。ライダーはすぐに急を知らせ、ホーナーはその晩のうちに逮捕されたが、石は彼の身からも部屋からも見つからなかった。伯爵夫人の小間使いキャサリン・キューザックは、盗難に気づいたライダーのうろたえた叫び声を聞いて部屋へ駆け込むと、前の証人が述べたとおりの有様だった、と証言した。B 管区のブラッドストリート警部は、ホーナーを逮捕したときの様子を証言し、ホーナーは必死に抵抗して、このうえなく強い言葉で無実を訴えたと述べた。被告に強盗の前科があるとの証言が出たため、治安判事はこの罪を略式で裁くことを拒み、巡回裁判に回した。審理のあいだ激しく感情を高ぶらせていたホーナーは、終わりに気を失い、法廷から運び出された」

Japanese words in this scene (with English meanings; ☆ saves a word)

  • 巡回裁判(じゅんかいさいばん) — assizes; circuit court proceedingshard
  • 盗難(とうなん) — theft; robbery
  • 事件(じけん) — case; incident
  • 配管工(はいかんこう) — plumber; pipe fitter
  • 伯爵(はくしゃく) — count; earl
  • 夫人(ふじん) — Mrs.; wife; married lady
  • ガーネット — garnet
  • れる — passive auxiliary

Next scene: Finding the Owner

Holmes finishes the newspaper report and sets aside the account of the police-court hearing. A ransacked jewel case at a hotel and a goose found in Tottenham Court Road must somehow be connected. Their immediate task is to trace that path, and Holmes begins considering how to find the owner of the hat.