Junior Detectives in the story papers and comics

[Raven]

Looking through the 'Tons of 'Tecs' text feature in the Boys World Annual 1967, just mentioned on another thread by Tin Can Tommy, I've spotted some new additions to the list.

From Merry and Bright, circa 1910-11: "A detective known as 'Gentleman Joe' employed no fewer than four Cockney lads 'from the gutter' who became known as the Urchin Detectives." No doubt a variation on the Baker Street Irregulars from Sherlock Holmes.

And schoolboy detective Len Lex, written by Charles Hamilton ("Frank Richards") appeared in Modern Boy, circa 1936. Len was "the orphaned nephew of a Scotland Yard detective-inspector," and had his own "Watson": "A blundering fellow schoolboy named Peter Porridge."

There are a few paragraphs on Peter Flint and his young assistant Jack Nugget (who, when not rescuing Flint, "spent his time inventing all sorts of weird and wonderful gadgets") from Nugget Library, as mentioned by paw broon upthread, too, making that series sound quite appealingly offbeat and macabre.

Not a junior detective, but I do love the sound of zoologist 'tec Abel Daunt from The Firefly, also mentioned.

From 'The Crime Fighters' website by W.O.G. Lofts and Derek Adley:

"When interviewing clients he usually sat on a chair of state (which had once been the throne of an Indian Prince), with a Siberian wolf stretched out at his feet ...

"Dark skilled men, robed in flowing white garments, stood here and there, silent and motionless. Terrifying animals, including a black-maned lion, were either crouching on the rugs or stalking noiselessly to and fro. Birds of gaudy plumage fluttered about the chamber, while a hidden orchestra played soothing music in the gallery."

[paw broon]

Abel Daunt does sound intriguing and is a character I haven't encountered.
Also, Raven, I'm probably mentioning something you already know but I've been reading a few Terry Brent stories from School Friend and of course he has a young assistant who is his niece, Paddy McNaught. Mind you, she really is there to be rescued from time to time.

[Raven]

No, I'm not familiar with Terry Brent or School Friend - though I suppose your aforementioned junior sidekick Jack Nugget fits the bill more impressively, as I understand he regularly rescued the adult detective!

[Phoenix]

Not a junior detective, but I do love the sound of zoologist 'tec Abel Daunt from The Firefly, also mentioned.

From 'The Crime Fighters' website by W.O.G. Lofts and Derek Adley:

"When interviewing clients he usually sat on a chair of state (which had once been the throne of an Indian Prince), with a Siberian wolf stretched out at his feet ...

"Dark skilled men, robed in flowing white garments, stood here and there, silent and motionless. Terrifying animals, including a black-maned lion, were either crouching on the rugs or stalking noiselessly to and fro. Birds of gaudy plumage fluttered about the chamber, while a hidden orchestra played soothing music in the gallery."

The earliest issue of The Firefly in my collection, Raven, is 4 (March 21 1914). In that week's complete, On Secret Service, there are certainly some exotic animals but they don't play any part in the action. They are a bit like expensive wallpaper, evidence of Daunt's elegant, opulent life style, and capable of persuading clients that such an extraordinary man in such fantastic surroundings can be trusted 100% to deliver. Perhaps Bill Lofts and Derek Adley have been unintentionally misleading. Let me quote the third paragraph of this story. Abel Daunt is about to hear why his latest client, Horace Vernon, wants his advice and help.

Leaning slightly forward, with his chin resting on his hand, and the jewels which studded the Indian throne sparkling in rainbow hues behind him, he fixed his keen eyes on his client. The swarthy attendants, sons of tropic lands, had withdrawn to the further end of the Hall of a Hundred Columns, with the exception of Itoya, the Japanese, who remained near. A Siberian wolf passed like a grey shadow across the hall, and a leopard sniffed at the scented fountain which was plashing musically into the basin. But the animal turned away. It did not want scented water. A puma lazily stretched itself on a priceless Oriental rug at Daunt's feet, and a bright-eyed lynx moved stealthily among the columns.

So, as you can see, the animals that Lofts and Adley focused on are definitely there, but they are not mentioned again during the entire episode.

[Raven]

Thanks for that, Phoenix. The exotic beasts and home lifestyle - Daunt would be a great subject for Through the Keyhole - are definitely the most enigmatic and intriguing-sounding elements of this series for me (this is good: "A Siberian wolf passed like a grey shadow across the hall, and a leopard sniffed at the fountain which was plashing musically into the basin. But the animal turned away. It did not want scented water." I feel I've improved it a tad by removing the first 'scented'!), so it's a shame if they turn out to be just decorative accoutrements on otherwise standard detective fiction, though I can see how difficult it would be to expand them into the actual mysteries.

[Phoenix]

I've read through a few more of the Abel Daunt episodes, Raven, and there is little to add to what I've said so far. Daunt has a capable young assistant called Jack Rodney, who sometimes works in tandem with Itoya, and there are lots of employees living with Daunt, ready for action whenever called upon. There were turbaned Arabs, Turks, top-hatted young swells, and men who looked as though they were capable of committing almost any crime. They were all prepared to lay down their lives in his service. Sometimes the animals were used to terrify criminals who Daunt had had taken to his opulent home. In the example below, the hooded cobras, which had had their poison glands removed, were used to persuade Landon Burke, who had had one of his cousins killed by a poisonous snake in an attempt to get an inheritance that he thought should have come to him in the first place, to admit to his crime. He does so but, when he tries to escape, all the cobras move in and some bite him. He dies, not from any poison but from a broken blood vessel brought about by his sheer terror. The title of the episode, with which Daunt totally agrees, is As A Man Sows, So Shall He Reap. Very Old Testament!

[Raven]

Nice illustration, thanks! Yes, that gets the flavour of his jungle-esque home across very well. You'd expect his creatures to terrify his clients as much as the criminals, though.

The world of Abel Daunt does seem well realised - I think Hollywood should be sniffing around to find out who, if anyone, owns the rights to The Firefly. Hard to see how he could fail with all those helpers: Itoya, Jack Rodney, a bunch of foppish dandies, a bunch of criminals, the Arabs and Turks - and all prepared to die for him. Presumably things aren't too easy or there'd be no tension. Does Daunt have any vulnerable qualities or moments? Is he more of an action man than a master-deducer like Sherlock Holmes?

[philcom55]

Sounds like a suitable candidate for the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I wonder if Alan Moore has ever come across him.

- Phil R.

[Phoenix]

Does Daunt have any vulnerable qualities or moments? Is he more of an action man than a master-deducer like Sherlock Holmes?

My final comments on this character, Raven. Daunt certainly doesn't spend too long in the deductive phase of his investigations, and once he has a firm idea of how to proceed he cuts to the chase. Regarding his vulnerability, there is one story in which he and his team need to go to Russia to try to get the stolen Great Mogul diamond back. Only Daunt and Inspector Stornton of Scotland Yard return with the diamond but they are overtaken by an enormous sandstorm and thousands of wolves. All their horses bar one are killed but they manage to outpace the twin threats and escape on that remaining one.

A couple of quotations from this episode are quite revealing of the man. First some narrative. There came the sounds of low growls from the wild animals, with the presence of which it was Daunt's custom to impress the visitors to his palace in the East End of London. Secondly, from Daunt's address to the trio of Yard inspectors who have come to request his assistance. Welcome to the Hall of a Hundred Columns and to the palace of Abel Daunt. I have no doubt you think my dwelling unnecessarily elaborate and my method of receiving my clients theatrical and perhaps a little ridiculous. I cannot help it if that is your opinion. My methods are my methods and you may be assured that I have very good reasons for adopting them. Vulnerable to criticism, would you say?

[philcom55]

...It also sounds as though he might have something to hide - a bit like the Count of Monte Cristo, whose fabulous riches and adopted title concealed a criminal record.

- Phil Rushton

[Phoenix]

Unfortunately, Phil, I don't have the first episode, which presumably will have given readers the back story.

[dishes]

...It also sounds as though he might have something to hide - a bit like the Count of Monte Cristo, whose fabulous riches and adopted title concealed a criminal record.

- Phil Rushton

A thoroughly undeserved trumped-up criminal record, of course.

[Raven]

"I have no doubt you think my dwelling unnecessarily elaborate and my method of receiving my clients theatrical ... "

Hmm, cobras, lions, Siberian wolf, leopard, silent assassin types, jujitsu expert servant, orchestra ... no, what makes you think that?

Thanks for all the information, Phoenix. The adventure with thousands of wolves sounds quite stirring, and if you recall which issue this was, I'd be interested to hear, but not to worry if your Fireflys are now safely packed away again.

Makes you ponder how many other interesting characters and concepts have been lost to time.

[Phoenix]

Thanks for all the information, Phoenix. The adventure with thousands of wolves sounds quite stirring, and if you recall which issue this was, I'd be interested to hear, but not to worry if your Fireflys are now safely packed away again.

It is in The Firefly 22 (July 25 1914). The episode is called The Sandstorm In The Desert.

[Raven]

Thanks, Phoenix. I'll remember that as an interesting sounding example. I hope at least 600 of the wolves are depicted on the front cover illustration.