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Sherlock Holmes Flips an Uncooperative Witness

In "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," Sherlock Holmes discovers that a stolen gem had been hidden inside the carcass of a goose.  In order to uncover the thief, Holmes had to learn who sold the goose to the butcher.  The butcher was unwilling to answer Holmes question.  Rather than giving up, or offering a bribe, Holmes proposed a wager: § § § "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you should be so warm over such a trifle." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the fuss that is made over them...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on August 26, 2009 (boomark / email).