Birdy Edwards

Birdy Edwards (right) with Ted Baldwin (left) (The Strand Magazine, february 1915)

Fictional character.

In the Sherlock Holmes stories

aka John McMurdo
aka Jack McMurdo
aka John Douglas

• Birdy Edwards was a Pinkerton detective who infiltrated The Scowrers (VALL 3995).

• He was married twice : to Ettie Shafter he wed in Chicago who died in California (VALL 4048), and to Ivy Douglas in England (VALL 4069).

• He entered the coal valley under the McMurdo identity and embeds himself locally (VALL 2017).

• He won the gang's confidence by acting the part, saloon life, fights, bravado... (VALL 2635).

• He was initiated into Lodge 341 and accepts its discipline to maintain cover (VALL 2752).

• He participated enough to remain credible, while trying to limit harm when he can (VALL 4023).

• He manipulated Lodge leadership into a controlled (VALL 3739).

• He sprang the trap and reveals himself, with armed support surrounding the house (VALL 3996).

• He stated he will appear in court against them (VALL 3991).

• His testimony helped destroy The Scowrers and lead to executions/imprisonments (VALL 4052).

• Afterward, he was hunted for years and repeatedly changed identity, becoming "Douglas" and then "John Douglas" in England (VALL 4066).

• He was lost overboard in gale off St Helena. No one knows how accident occurred (VALL 4096).

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