The Edalji Case. Home Office Deliberating

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

The Edalji Case. Home Office Deliberating is a collection of 7 letters published in The Daily Telegraph on 19 january 1907 including one written by George Edalji and one written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Below is reproduced the Conan Doyle's letter only. The George Edalji's letter is here.


The Edalji Case. Home Office Deliberating

The Daily Telegraph (19 january 1907, p. 9)

To the Editor of "The Daily Telegraph."

Sir — Would you have the kindness to give publicity to the following incident, which may have a very direct bearing upon the Edalji case.

On Oct. 1, 1903, the police received the following letter, bearing the postmark of South-end-on-Sea :

Seeing is yesterday's issue of Daily Mail concerning the cattle-maiming case. You refer to the vicar receiving anonymous letters some years back, and someone sending out goods from various tradesmen for jokes. I think I could inform you who the party was, as I have heard from his own lips that he helped to play the joke upon the vicar. He has been a writer of several annoying letters. Not only has he wrote them himself, but he had got other people. If you think this could help you in any way I will send you address as to where you may find him. — Yours truly A Young Housemaid.
P.S. — Please answer through Daily Mail.

No steps were taken by the police.

There is always the possibility of a hoax, but there is, I think, some internal evidence that this letter is genuine. I have endeavoured to pick up the lost thread by advertisement through the Daily Mail, but without success. It occurs to me, however, that this woman, if still alive, must retain her interest in the case, and must therefore be following its development in The Daily Telegraph. If this should meet her eye I would beg her to communicate with me at this address, and I give her the assurance that she shall be put to no personal loss or inconvenience if she will aid the cause of justice. — Yours faithfully,

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
Grand Hotel. London, Jan. 18.