Conan Doyle and the Parson’s Son

Peter Costello, in his book Conan Doyle, The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes (2006) described Gordon Weaver’s Conan Doyle and the Parson’s The George Edalji Case, as the definitive account of the Edalji Case for a long time to come.

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‘Curl Up with a Good Book’ review by Tonia Montgomery 2007

This is a thorough description of life in England for one of Indian descent at the dawning of the twentieth century. Author Gordon Weaver demonstrates how easily people in power can be swayed by popular opinion.

George Edalji, son of an Indian clergyman and an Englishwoman, was accused and convicted of mutilating livestock and writing threatening letters. At a time when livestock was part of one’s livelihood, these were serious charges. As an outsider in an isolated and completely English community, George Edalji was identified early on as the most obvious suspect. Though the evidence was scanty, the police appeared determined to show he was the guilty party.

Fortunately for Edalji, the case garnered national attention and caught the attention of the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Weaver chronicles the struggles of Edalji’s supporters as they sought legal exoneration for his crimes. He demonstrates his exhaustive research on this subject, drawing in both local and national resources. While his is not a book for casual reading, Weaver certainly has an enjoyable writing style – clear, precise, and easily understood. I expected the legal terminology to be daunting but found Weaver’s explanations informative. This is an invaluable resource for those interested in historical legal proceedings or the evolution of civil rights. It has little to do with Mr. Conan Doyle’s most famous character, Sherlock Holmes.

Joplin Independent by Jack L. Kennedy 22 September 2006

Conan Doyle and the Parson’s The George Edalji Case by Gordon Weaver

Sometimes, the best reality shows are in print, not on television.

Conan Doyle and the Parson’s the George Edalji Case has all of the lure of an action drama, with some of the syrup of the Real World thrown in. Add elements of intrigue and a famed mystery writer, with a nod to the science of CSI, and you have Gordon Weaver’s book, the first non-fiction account of the George Edalji case and the background detail leading up to Conan Doyle’s intervention.

The twisted tale begins in the 1870s, when George Edalji’s father came from his native India to be vicar of a small Church of England parish in rural South Staffordshire. He was outspoken, concerned about injustice–and married to a British lady.

The Weaver book begins in the 19th century but has elements that are chillingly modern and in today’s inept police work, social and cultural divides, allegations of incest, debates over the role of the media, cattle mutilation, fights for better working conditions, racism and stereotypes. The book’s fabric is both political and sociological, history and mystery.
Here’s the Cliff’s Notes’ plot The Rev. Edalji’s passion stirs up the populace. His outspoken nature–and marriage to a Brit, although the island nation liked to think it was tolerant–made him a handy target. When a rash of cattle mutilations erupts, anonymous letters follow to the newspapers and rumors circulate in the countryside, accusing the reverend’s son of the crimes and his father of almost cult-like activities. There are threats upon Rev. Edalji’s life. Local police, said to be in league with “the establishment,” immediately tag the parson’s son. He was tried in 1903 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Despite the reluctance of the Home Office to take the parson’s son’s view and Doyle’s defense seriously, Edalji does get a measure of justice in the end. A young Winston Churchill, friend of Doyle’s, even enters the controversy after he becomes Home Secretary about 1910.

For a synopsis visit www.theplebeian.net