HefascinatedVictorianEnglandwithhisunequalledskillatbrilliantcasesbasedonlogicalreasoningandgraspofforensic(法医的)sciencenottomentionamasteryofdisguises(伪装)andanencyclopedicknowledgeofthecriminalunderclass.
ButthisdetectivewasnotSherlockHolmesbutareallifeinvestigatorJeromeCaminadawhonewresearchsuggestshelpedinspireSirArthurConanDoyle’scelebratedhero.
AbiographyofCaminadawrittenbyAngelaBuckleyrevealsaseriesofstrikingsimilaritiesbetweenhimandthefictionalcharacterintermsoftheirunusualmethodsandcharacter.Italsoestablishesstrongechoesbetweentherealdetective’scasesandplotlinesusedbyDoyle.
ThesonofanItalianfatherandIrishmotherCaminadawasbasedinManchesterbutwasinvolvedincaseswhichtookhimacrossthecountryandheenjoyedanationwideprofileinthepresswhereaccountsofhislegendwerewidelyreported.
MostofhiscareerwasspentwithManchesterCityPoliceForcealthoughhelateroperatedlikeHolmesasa“consultingdetective”.
Hebecamewell-knowninthemid1880sshortlybeforeSherlockHolmesmadehisfirstappearanceinAStudyinScarletandparallelssoonemergedbetweenthetwo.
Asthefictionalcharacterreliedonanetworkofunderworldcontacts~theBakerStreetIrregulars~soCaminadawasknownforhisextensivewebofinformerswhomhewouldoftenmeetinthebackseatofachurch. •
ThesecharactershelpedhimbuildupanencyclopedicknowledgeoftheCriminalfratemity(兄弟会),amongwhomhewouldoftenmoveindisguise—anothermethodincoptnQnwithHolmes.
HisskillwithdisguiseswassorenownedthatononeoccasionwhiletrackingagroupofthievesattheGrandNationaldressedasalaborerhisownchiefpoliceofficerwasunabletorecognisehim.
.Howeverhealsoposedaswhitecollarprofessionalsoncewhilebringinga bogus(假的)doctortojustice.
Overthecourseofhiscareerhewasreportedlyresponsiblefortheimprisonmentof1225criminals.Hismostfamouscase—andperhapstheonewhichmostcloselyresemblesaHolmesstory—was“MysteryoftheFour-WheeledCab”.
MrsBuckleyidentifiesCaminada’s“Moriaty”figureasBobHorridgeaviolentintelligentcareer