From V Tsuion: Watson gets to be the detective for a day (Or, Watson solves a mystery)
"Inspector, I assure you, I did not kill Mr Peabody. He was my employer. He always treated me fairly. I swear to you that I was asleep in my room all night."
The Inspector investigating the sudden death of the illustrious Mr Peabody jotted a few notes as Michael Flannel gave his statement. Michael was Mr Peabody's personal assistant. He helped the man with his meals, medicines, and getting around the house. He tucked Peabody into bed at night and helped him get dressed in the morning.
"As I was saying, I sleep at the end of the hall with my door ajar. If Mr Peabody needs anything in the night, he rings the bell. I hear it and come to check on him. Last night, nothing disturbed my sleep after I closed up the house and went to bed at 11 PM."
"How long have you been in the employment of the victim?"
"Nearly 3 years, sir."
"Can you describe the events of this morning?"
"Well, sir, I got up at 5:30 AM, just like any other day. It was still dark so I lit the lamps and dressed for duty. Then I went down and brewed tea, which I brought up to Mr Peabody's bedroom at precisely 6 AM. The door was open, which is not unusual. My employer never locks his door. When I brought in the tea tray, I nearly dropped it because there was Mr Peabody, lying on his face on the floor at the foot of his bed. He was wearing the same nightclothes that I helped him into last night."
The inspector made some notes. "Did you notice anything that might have been disturbed?"
"No."
"Ok, Mr Flannel, thank you for your cooperation. You are dismissed for now but please do not leave town. We may have more questions."
The frightened young man wiped his damp brow and exited the room hurriedly. He looked rather pale.
"Well, Doctor Watson, what do you think? Is the lad telling the truth or do you think there are more nefarious circumstances we're dealing with?"
"Tell me more about the victim, Inspector." Watson knelt down to examine the body. "Why had he hired Mr Flannel as his caregiver?"
"He has been an invalid for quite some time, Doctor. He hired the lad after his wife passed away a few years ago."
"I see that our victim's muscle tone in his legs was quite poor, Inspector. From the poor muscle of his calves, I'd say our man needed assistance for any significant distance."
"An accidental fall then?"
"On the other hand, there are no bruises or signs of trauma such that would be expected had this gentleman fallen." Watson shook his head.
"From an inspection of the victim's slippers and the soles of his feet, one can see that when he did get around, he tended to walk erratically and with a wide stance… sort of like a man who's drunk too much alcohol. However, we know from the lad and this man's cabinets, that he was not a drinker.
"I see," the Inspector did not really see but he made some important loops on his notepad nonetheless.
"The most important bit of evidence is these small soft tumour-like lumps all over the man's body."
"Oh?"
"Yes, these tissue growths are called 'gummata or gummas' and are found in people suffering from the late stages of syphilis."
"But how does that lead us to cause of death?"
"Well, Inspector, ultimately, I'll need to complete an autopsy but I can tell you that foul play does not seem to be involved."
He stood up to stretch while the local constable and his helpers carried the body out of the room.
"Here's a widower for several years whose health is such that he requires a lad day and night to assist him. He lived alone without visits from friends and family, likely because his personality and memory could no longer support simple social gatherings and conversations. The lad mentioned he had to remind the poor man to eat his meals, a sure symptom of dementia. The gentleman had end stage syphilis and couldn't walk well either. Syphilis often affects the heart muscles and large blood vessels attached to the heart. A common complication of this is an aneurysm. I suspect his great blood vessel broke open and he died of internal bleeding. His death was quick and painless. The lad never heard the man cry out. Nothing of value was taken. The man's watch and pocket book are on his dresser, intact. No drawers appear to have been disturbed eliminating the possibility of a secret document."
The Inspector looked around the undisturbed room. He nodded slowly.
"I am inclined to agree with you, doctor. I will look forward to the final coroner report."
~ooo~
As the astute Doctor Watson anticipated, the death of Mr Peabody was determined to be due to rupture of his aorta due to a syphilitic aneurysm. The young Michael Flannel was able to start his own soap-making business on the small annuity he received from his former client's generous will.