Tony Mulholland's play about the case of George Edalji is one of at least three broadcast by BBC Radio 4. Here, Peter Jeffrey plays Conan Doyle - better casting, perhaps, than Carleton Hobbs in Roger Woddis's "Conan Doyle Investigates" (see elsewhere in this group), though the ideal match of actor and character was surely Iain Cuthbertson as ACD in "Conan Doyle and the Edalji Case" by Roy Apps. (Does anyone have a copy of Apps's play, please? My off-air recording has disappeared!)
"Conan Doyle's Strangest Case" was broadcast on 14 January 1995. I'm very grateful to my friend Philip Attwell for providing this recording.
RogerConan Doyle's Strangest Case 1.mp3
Conan Doyle's Strangest Case 2.mp3
Replies
Conan Doyle and The Edalji Case
by Roy Apps, based on a true story.
George Edalji grew up in Great Wyrley, northwest of Birmingham. His father was a Parsee Indian who had converted to the Church of England and become a vicar. Reverend Edalji married an English woman and together they had three children, including George.
In 1903 George was convicted of the ghastly crime of "cattle ripping", the exsanguinations of horses and cows via a vicious slash to the belly. Public outcry led to Edalji's early release, but the government offered him no compensation or pardon, leaving Edalji unable to return to his beloved profession of solicitor.
in 1907 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a series of articles for The Daily Telegraph about the Edalji case. He outlined everything in great detail. These articles caught the public's attention and that caught the attention of the British government. At that time there was no procedure for a retrial so there was a private committee meeting to consider the matter. In the spring of 1907 the committee decided that Edalji was innocent of the mutilations, but still found him guilty of writing anonymous letters.
Conan Doyle found anything less than a finding of innocent on all charges a miscarriage of justice, however the decision made a huge difference for Edalji. The Law Society readmitted him. Edalji was once again able to practice as a solicitor.
Partially as a result of this case the Court of Criminal Appeal was established in 1907. So not only did Conan Doyle help George Edalji, his work helped to establish a way to correct other miscarriages of justice.
More information here : http://www.historynet.com/sir-arthur-conan-doyle-and-the-case-of-ge...
and here : http://www.theplebeian.net/books_cdtps.php
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 12th December 1987 as Saturday Night Theatre, although this recording is introduced as 'The Afternoon Play'.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle : Iain Cuthbertson
George Edalji : Michael M. Harbour
Mrs. Doyle : Margot Boyd
Anson : Alan Dudley
Mrs. Edalji / Mary : Emily Richard
Major Wood : John Church
Jean / Maud : Victoria Carling
Revd. Mr Edalji / Arrowsmith : John Baddeley
Constable Rowley / Beaumont : Michael Tudor Barnes
Inspector Campbell : Anthony Jackson
Robinson / Chalmers : David Goodland
Directed by Brian Miller.
Roy Apps - Conan Doyle and the Edalji Case (BBC 1987-12-12).mp3
Roger