Sherlock Holmes: The Dark Reckoning by Ian Wright Page A

the girl was not dead. 
The sudden pain she experienced, when he started sawing, caused her to regain
consciousness.  She struck her attacker with her right hand, and scratched his
face.  The print on her throat is from a shoe, or boot, and suggests that the
man stamped on her, in reprisal for scratching him.  It was probably at this
time that, in his anger, he thrust his walking cane twice into her face. 
Judging by the size of the mark on her throat, left by the shoe, or boot, I
would venture that the man is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet 10
inches tall.”
    “That’s incredible, Holmes.  But how do you know that it was
the smaller, well spoken man that cut the girl’s arm off?” enquired Lestrade.
    “Firstly, the size of the print on the girl’s throat is far
too small to belong to the larger of the men.  Secondly, I suspect the well
spoken man to be Stephen Wood.  If so, he will have hired the larger man as his
muscle, but will be compelled to carry out as many of the gruesome acts as
possible.  I believe that he will derive a twisted pleasure in conducting such
mutilations.”
    “You mentioned that the killer is likely to have been
scratched on his face, by Sally Spencer.  What leads to believe that the
scratch will be on his face?” asked Watson.
    “It was freezing cold last night, Watson.  Anyone out in
that weather would have been wrapped up in thick clothes.  This leads me to
think that the only parts of the killer’s anatomy not covered by clothing,
would have been his face and, possibly, his hands.  Since he was using his
hands to saw off the girl’s arm, his face would have been in range of such an
attack.”
    Holmes turned to Dr. Death, and asked, “May I examine the
bodies to the two policemen?”
    “Of course,” replied the doctor.
    Holmes began to examine the two dead policemen, whilst the
other three men looked on.
    After a short time, Holmes commented, “Both of these men
appear to have been hit around the head with something like a shovel, moreover
a clean shovel.”  He pointed out the marks on the dead bodies to the three
onlookers, and then drew their attention to a small pin prick in the left arm
of each policeman.  “It also appears that the policemen were injected with
something, which may have caused them to convulse, violently.  Look at all the
bruises, especially around their feet, ankles, elbows and wrists,” he added.
    Dr. Death responded, “I also noticed those marks, Mr.
Holmes.  I can’t be completely sure, at this stage, but I think they may have
been injected with strychnine.  If a lethal dose of strychnine is given, it
causes convulsions.  Death is usually caused by asphyxia or sheer exhaustion
from the intensity of the convulsions.  The bruises you mentioned are
consistent with somebody experiencing a violent fit of some kind.”
    “I agree,” said Holmes.  “Let us move on to the trade marks
of our killer.  As you can see, P.C. Roach’s right arm and Sergeant Baxter’s
right leg have been removed.  Both appear to have been cut off with an axe, or
similar instrument.  The wounds show similarities, so I believe the same weapon
was used in both cases.  This mark appears on both wounds and was probably
caused by a defect on the blade.  Judging by the depth of the cuts, I would
venture that Stephen Wood carried out this act, but it was the stronger
accomplice that hit them with the shovel.”
    Nobody questioned the detective on what he had said, so he
continued, “I believe that the girl was attacked between 11pm and 11:30pm last
night, based upon the information her sister gave us.  The policemen were
probably killed some time after that.”
    “How do you know that?” questioned Watson.
    “The clue is in the use of strychnine on the policemen,
Watson.  If I am correct about Miss Spencer attacking Stephen Wood after he
thought her to be dead, it would have scared him.  In order to avoid any
further occurrences, he got his