Gloria Scott Letter

A harmless-looking note about game and fly-paper that hides a deadly warning.

The Gloria Scott letter is the message that reaches the elder Mr Trevor in "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott". Postmarked Fordingbridge in Hampshire, it brings on the stroke from which he dies. Holmes tells the story himself: it is the first case to which he applied his powers of deduction, during his university days.

Quick Facts

Case association: The Adventure of the Gloria Scott

Lore & Background

On its face the letter speaks of the supply of game for London, a head-keeper named Hudson, fly-paper and a hen pheasant. It means nothing to Trevor's son Victor, but Holmes works out that it hides a message, found by reading the first word and every third word after it: "The game is up. Hudson has told all. Fly for your life." Hudson was an old shipmate who had been blackmailing both Trevor and a man named Beddoes. Papers left by Trevor give the background: born James Armitage, he had been transported for embezzlement aboard the Gloria Scott, bound for Australia from Falmouth, and was caught up in a prisoners' takeover of the ship.