Plot

Exposition

1. Sherlock Holmes invited Dr Watson to solve a murder case in Boscombe Valley.
2. Charles McCarthy was found dead by his son, James McCarthy who was later accused of killing his own father.
3. Moran, the gamekeeper saw both, James and Charles on the path to Boscombe Pool while his 14-year-old daughter saw them arguing.
4. During the trial, James mentioned hearing his father cried ‘Cooee’ and quickly ran towards him.
5. He found his father on the ground and his father’s last word was ‘Raat’.
6. When the judge asked what they were arguing about, he refused to reveal it and he also mentioned a grey coat.

Rising action

1. At the hotel, Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and Inspector Lestrade met Alice Turner, who believed that James McCarthy was innocent.
2. Her father, John Turner and Charles McCarthy were friends when they were back in Australia.
3. Alice revealed that the argument was about her. Charles wanted James to marry Alice but James refused as he was still too young. Her father totally disapproved of them getting married.
4. When they wanted to see her father, she told them that her father was very ill and was shocked about the murder.
5. Sherlock Holmes visited James in the prison and James told him that he was married.
6. Sherlock Holmes went to Boscombe Pool to collect evidence.
7. He followed the footprints and found the murder weapon which still had blood on it.
8. He revealed the murderer was a tall man, left-handed and limps on his right leg. He wore heavy boots and smoked Indian cigars.

Climax

1. At the hotel, Sherlock Holmes explained his findings to Dr Watson that ‘Cooee’ was an Australian word and only recognised by Australian and ‘Raat’ was actually a place in Australia, Ballarat.
2. The footprints he found have limps, a heavy-toed boots, the type worn in Australian bush.
3. The murderer was also left-handed as he hit Charles on the left side of the head.
4. He also found ashes of Indian cigar where only a rich person could afford it.

Falling action

1. Responding to Sherlock Holmes letter, John Turner went to his house and later confessed in killing Charles.
2. He explained that formerly he was known as Black Jack of Ballarat and did things he wasn't proud of.
3. He moved to England and turned a new leaf. He was a well respected person in Boscombe Valley until he met Charles McCarthy 20 years ago and he was blackmailed by him since then.
4. Sherlock Holmes asked him to write a confession letter to be used if James was found guilty. Otherwise, he would destroy the letter.

Resolution

1. Seven months later, John Turner passed away.
2. James and Alice got married and Sherlock Holmes kept his promise and destroyed the confession letter.