Treason by a Patriot’s Brother
In "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans", while Holmes investigates the disappearance of the secret plans, he finds himself inclining to the story that Cadogan West stole the papers and was double-crossed and murdered. However, it is found later in the story that the plans were actually stolen by Colonel Walter, brother of Sir James Walter, for money. Both West and Sir Walter were great patriots, and it was a shock for everyone that Colonel would be willing to sell such important documents to international forces for money.
Holmes letting go of Murderers
This happens in two stories. While Holmes who considered him as a man of justice and law, has his own morals. He believes in the motive of a crime more than the crime itself. It is for this reason, he doesn’t make a case against Gennaro Lucca for murder of Giuseppe Gorgiano in "The Adventure of the Red Circle", or against Dr. Sterndale for the murder of Mortimer Tregennis in "The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot."
Savagery of Philip Green
In "The Disappearance of the Lady Frances Carfax", when Watson is sent by Holmes to investigate upon the matter, Watson begins to suspect the savage he has heard of disturbing the Lady Carfax. He has a meeting with him later and tries to get into an altercation with him believing him to have harmed her. However, the man, Philip Green is the one who was trying to protect her even though he appears as a savage and a cruel man.
British as Simple People
In "His Last Bow", German spy Van Bork remarks that ‘They (the British people) are not very hard to deceive, a more docile, simple folk could not be imagined.’ He underestimates the British for their intelligence and believes to have successfully infiltrated the British Intelligence. However, Sherlock Holmes, a British detective is able to arrest him and safeguard the plans stolen from the Government.
August 1914
In "His Last Bow", German spy Van Bork boasts of his impenetrable safe that couldn't be cut using any tools, and its double-combination lock would make it difficult to anyone to open the safe. But, he himself tells the password to the safe which is August 1914, rendering the safety of the safe useless.
