Lady Molly of Scotland Yard
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1910 |
| Products | Short story collection |
Lady Molly of Scotland Yard is a 1910 anthology of short narratives centered on Molly Robertson-Kirk, one of the earliest fictional female detectives crafted by Baroness Orczy, renowned for The Scarlet Pimpernel. Orczy also created several detectives around the turn of the century, such as The Old Man in the Corner.
The collection rapidly achieved popularity, resulting in three printings within its initial year. Lady Molly is notable as among the pioneering female detective leads, predating actual policewomen by about ten years. Her effectiveness often stems from her ability to interpret domestic details overlooked by male officers. Driven to prove her fiancé's innocence, she enlists in the police force, eventually marries, and retires from service.
Overview
This volume compiles all twelve of Lady Molly’s cases, all recounted through the perspective of her assistant, Mary Granard.
The Ninescore Mystery
Lady Molly is finally authorized to investigate the Ninescore murder case—an uncommon opportunity for a woman in the department.
Mary Nicholls was discovered deceased beside a pond at Ash Court mansion in Ninescore village on February 5th. Identification relied on clothing and personal effects due to the body's decomposition. Mary and her sister Susan, residents nearby, had been missing since January 23rd. Although financially comfortable, the sisters quarreled over Lionel Lydgate, who was romantically involved with Mary despite being engaged to another. Additionally, rumors circulated about a baby girl Mary had entrusted to Mrs Williams, a local widow.
On the night Mary disappeared, she visited the child with excitement and mentioned plans to travel to London by train. A local carter reported overhearing a man speaking with Mary that evening.
At Ninescore police station, Inspector Meisures presents a note found in Mary’s purse listing dates and times possibly connected to Lydgate’s visits. Lydgate testified at the inquest that his last meeting with Mary was January 1st and that he was verifiably elsewhere on January 23rd.
With Lydgate cleared of suspicion, questions persisted regarding who killed Mary and Susan’s whereabouts.
After spotting a fabricated newspaper story claiming Mary’s baby had died, Lady Molly sent telegrams from Canterbury prompting Ninescore authorities to report Mary’s arrest.
Mary was charged with Susan’s murder but denied involvement while confirming Susan’s death. Lady Molly informed her that the baby would be sent to a workhouse; this led Mary to confess.
The infant’s father was Lord Edbrooke, who had impersonated his brother Lionel Lydgate in Ninescore. Susan discovered this deception and blackmailed Lord Edbrooke without Mary knowing. During an encounter when Susan wore Mary’s clothes, she was killed. Lord Edbrooke admitted this to Mary and urged her departure from town. The real Lydgate refused to implicate his brother during the inquest.
The Frewin Miniatures
Lady Molly’s unorthodox investigative style earned her a senior role at Scotland Yard. When the Frewin miniatures case emerged, she was promptly assigned.
Mr. Frewin, original owner of the missing Engleheart miniatures, recently passed away following a serious illness, leaving behind his wife and son Lionel. Lionel had accrued debts and was financially rescued by his affluent father on condition he start anew in Canada. Viewing Lionel’s conduct as damaging to the family reputation, Frewin declared that his wealth and prized art collection would instead go to nephew James Hyam, noted for his impeccable behavior.
Despite lucrative offers from institutions like the Louvre, Frewin refused to sell his prized artworks. On his deathbed he appeared willing to meet Lionel in Brighton; however, Lionel declined. Mr. Frewin died early the next morning; later that day Mrs. Frewin discovered the miniatures missing from their library.
Brighton police suspected the thief entered during an interval when the butler escorted Mrs. Frewin to her car. The maid found a library window open next morning suggesting someone had been locked inside overnight. Mrs. Frewin confirmed Lionel stayed at Hotel Metropole and dined elsewhere that evening, making it difficult to directly implicate him despite public suspicion.
Lady Molly undertook the investigation and instructed Scotland Yard to notify museums and collectors about recent acquisitions of Engleheart miniatures. She learned that eight miniatures had been acquired by a Budapest museum two years earlier.
During afternoon tea at Hotel Metropole with Mary and others present, Lady Molly disclosed she had obtained two Engleheart miniatures from Budapest and asked Mary to retrieve them for exhibition before Sir Anthony Truscott of South Kensington Museum.
Mrs. Frewin noticed this and offered Mary £200 to view the package contents. Lady Molly intervened revealing only blank cardboard inside—exposing Mrs. Frewin’s deceit.
Mrs. Frewin, an accomplished artist herself, had copied the miniatures after her husband’s health declined and sold the originals abroad to Budapest, funneling proceeds to her son. Facing probate valuation with inheritance due to James Hyam, she staged a theft to conceal her actions.
Lady Molly assured Mrs. Frewin that admitting guilt would prevent prosecution and recommended negotiating an amicable settlement with James Hyam regarding compensation.
The Irish-Tweed Coat
A young man faces accusations of murder. In an effort to establish his son's innocence, the father uncovers dubious conduct by one of his fiancée's lodgers and discovers proof connecting a Sicilian criminal organization. Lady Molly must swiftly transport this evidence to Italy before the gang can seize it.
Adaptation
The Woman in the Big Hat was transformed into an episode for the anthology television series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, featuring Elvi Hale in the role of Lady Molly.
References
- Carla T. Kungl: Creating the Fictional Female Detective. The Sleuth Heroines of British Women Writers, 1890–1940. London: McFarland & Company 2006.