45946 One Murphy, a gipsy horse-dealer, was on the moor at no great distance at the time, but he appears by his own confession to have been the worse for drink.
45947 He declares that he heard cries, but is unable to state from what direction they came.
45948 No signs of violence were to be discovered upon Sir Charles's person, and though the doctor's evidence pointed to an almost incredible facial distortion - so great that Dr Mortimer refused at first to believe that it was indeed his friend and patient who lay before him - it was explained that that is a symptom which is not unusual in cases of dyspnoea and death from cardiac exhaustion.
45949 This explanation was borne out by the postmortem examination, which showed long-standing organic disease, and the coroner's jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
45950 It is well that this is so, for it is obviously of the utmost importance that Sir Charles's heir should settle at the Hall, and continue the good work which has been so sadly interrupted.
45951 Had the prosaic finding of the coroner not finally put an end to the romantic stories which have been whispered in connection with the affair, it might have been difficult to find a tenant for Baskerville Hall.
45952 It is understood that the next-of-kin is Mr Henry Baskerville, if he be still alive, the son of Sir Charles Baskerville's younger brother.
45953 The young man, when last heard of, was in America, and inquiries are being instituted with a view to informing him of his good fortune.'
45954 Dr Mortimer refolded his paper and replaced it in his pocket.
45955 'Those are the public facts, Mr Holmes, in connection with the death of Sir Charles Baskerville.'
45956 'I must thank you', said Sherlock Holmes, 'for calling my attention to a case which certainly presents some features of interest.
45957 I had observed some newspaper comment at the time, but I was exceedingly preoccupied by that little affair of the Vatican cameos, and in my anxiety to oblige the Pope I lost touch with several interesting English cases.
45958 This article, you say, contains all the public facts?'