Question

How did Holmes trap Mr. Culverton Smith to confess the murder?

Answer 1

Holmes had been fasting for three days and with some makeup pretended to be ill. He pretended to have a Sumatran disease known as the Tarpaunli disease. When Mrs. Hudson called Mr. Watson to take a look at Holmes, he said that he did not have confidence in him as he was not a specialist of this disease. He did not want Watson to know he was not really ill. He asked Mr. Watson to visit Culverton Smith, as he was the only one in London with the knowledge of this disease and persuade him to treat Holmes and tell him that he was dying. On hearing this, Mr. Culverton visited Holmes who was pretending to be sick. While discussing the illness, Smith confessed that Victor Savage, his nephew had similar symptoms and died on the fourth day of getting infected. Holmes told him that he knew Smith had murdered Victor but he would forget it if Smith cured him. But according to Smith, Holmes had no proof of Victor's murder. Smith then asked if any box had arrived by post. Holmes replied affirmatively and said that he had opened that box and a sharp string inside it had drawn his blood. This made Smith reveal that Holmes had crossed his path and knew too much about Victor's murder. He threatened Holmes that his end was near as he had sent the box to murder Holmes. He pocketed the ivory box as it was the last piece of evidence. Inspector Morton was hiding outside the door and arrested Mr. Smith on Holmes' signal to turn up the gaslight.