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34 A.B.A. J. 473 (1948)
Sherlock Holmes: Was Conan Doyle's Famed Detective a Lawyer

handle is hein.journals/abaj34 and id is 521 raw text is: 1948 Annual Meeting Mineral Law (General Session) Municipal Law (General Session) Patent, Trade-Mark and Copyright Law (General Session) Public Utility Law (General Session) Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (General Session, Program of Probate and Trust Law Division) Section Dinners- Insurance Law Junior Bar Conference Mineral Law Patent, Trade-Mark and Copyright Law Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Wednesday, September 8 Section Meetings- Morning: Insurance Law (General Session) Judicial Administration (General Ses- sion) Mineral Law (General Session) Taxation (Committee on State and Lo cal Taxes) Section Dinners- Judicial Administration Public Utility Law Thursday, September 9 Section Meeting- Morning: Taxation (Committee on State and Lo- cal Taxes) 12 Sherlock Holmes: Was Conan Doyle's Famed Detective a Lawyer? by Albert P. Blaustein • Former Editor of Columbia Low School News 0 Many lawyers began their reading of detective stories and mystery fiction with Sir A. Conan Doyle's chronicles of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, since depicted many times on the stage, screen and radio. For the delectation of those who still remember their readings of Holmes or will turn back to these legendary reportings by the faithful Dr. Watson, our present author has come forward with the thesis, and some evidence, that the Baker Street sleuth was evidently educated or trained in the law, although he never practiced as a barrister or solicitor. At a time when much of the contents of the Journal are in a mood of advocacy or foreboding, this reminiscent recourse to literature of our light vein. 0 It was not until my sixth perusal of the sacred writings1 that I finally stumbled upon the truth of the mat- ter. And it was not until I completed a comprehensive examination, and analysis of the works of one Watson2 that I felt free to make this revela- tion to the reading public. But now it can be told: Sherlock Holmes8 was a lawyer.4 The first clue concerning Holmes' legal background is contained in Watson's first literary endeavor, A Study in Scarlet, in which the good younger years may be welcomed as in doctor drew up a document setting forth the accomplishments and disa- bilities of his (or her) companion. The twelfth and last statement of the commentary reads as follows: Has a good practical knowledge of British law (I Wat. 11). Where did the master obtain such learning? It is conceded that an old and experienced detective might very well acquire speaking ac- quaintance with British rules of law; but at the time the document re- ferred to was prepared, Holmes was at the threshold of his career. It is submitted that the great detective obtained this knowledge while study- ing for the Bar. Remember:. Holmes speaks of having been at college,6 but we are never told what college it was, or what he studied. And not long afterwards we find this commentary again the subject of conversation between the sleuth and his Boswell. Watson re-emphasized his characterization of the master 1. The Complete Sherlock Holmes lGarden City Publishing Company). This compilation is, for con- venience in checking by readers, referred to herein as '1 Wat.. 2. Author of the Sherlock eolmes stories; offi- cially known as John H. Watson, M.D. 3. World-famous consulting detective, formerly residing at 221B Baker Street, London. Present whereabouts unknown. Often referred to as the master. 4. But not, of course, a practicing solicitor or barrister. S. There ,is at present n heated controversy concerning the sex of Watson. Some commenta- tors, such as the spiritualist A. Conan Doyle, assert that the doctor was a man. Contra: Rex Stout, Watson Was a Woman. 6. The Gloria Scott, I Wat. 429; The Musgrave Ritual, I Wat. 444. June, 1948 • Vol. 34 473

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